Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, and Siemens launch Scope, an industry alliance to accelerate the deployment of carrier-grade base platforms

January 19, 2006

2 Min Read

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Leading network equipment providers Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola, NEC, Nokia and Siemens have launched SCOPE, an industry alliance to accelerate the deployment of carrier grade base platforms for service provider applications. Its mission is to help, enable and promote the availability of open carrier grade base platforms based on Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) hardware / software and free open source software building blocks, and to promote interoperability to better serve Service Providers and consumers.

SCOPE plans to complement the work of several industry initiatives such as PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group, Service Availability Forum, Open Source Development Lab and others that have successfully created high quality open specifications that enable the creation of carrier grade base platforms. SCOPE will not create specifications, but it will establish profiles that enable and encourage the use of COTS and free open source software building blocks based upon open specifications developed by those other industry groups. SCOPE will focus on existing open specifications it believes best meets the needs of Service Providers and identify areas where additional specification work is needed.

”Creating carrier grade profiles will enable the network equipment provider ecosystem to develop and manufacture hardware and software building blocks and platforms with higher volumes, thus lowering costs. Such profiles will serve to create products which include the features that are required by the telecommunications industry to bring high quality and innovative new services to consumers,” said Timo Jokiaho, chairman of SCOPE. “SCOPE membership is open to companies wishing to contribute to this effort.”

SCOPE’s initial activities will be focused on creating profiles for hardware, operating system, base platform middleware and tools suites based on Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (ATCA), Carrier Grade Linux, and SA Forum’s interface specifications. SCOPE expects its first profile to be published in Q1 of 2006.

"SCOPE promises to be a very positive collaboration by many of the telecommunication industry leaders - an effort that looks at standards produced by a number of specification bodies and clarifies what is vital to the industry", said Ken Rehbehn, Research Director for Telecom Infrastructure at Current Analysis. Mr. Rehbehn added, "The insight produced by SCOPE should allow the Network Equipment supply chain to focus and accelerate investment in development of commercial off-the-shelf components ready for integration into innovative communication systems."

SCOPE expects to be releasing specification profiles related to carrier grade base platforms in the near future. Up to date information can be found at www.scope-alliance.org

“This alliance is a classic example of an open forum, aiming to better serve its constituents and the consumer,” said Tim Kober president of SA Forum. “It is my opinion that SCOPE will serve to accelerate innovation and increase efficiency.”

Scope Alliance

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