PICMG ratifies MicroTCA

The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) announced that its executive membership has ratified the MTCA.0 MicroTCA specification, which is designed to bring the system management and fabric advantages of the Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture to smaller-form factor equipment likely to be used in telecom edge and access applications.

The specification was developed over 18 months with the participation of more than 95 companies. MicroTCA defines systems that accommodate plug in cards complying with the Advanced Mezzanine Card specification, according to PICMG. These cards, which were originally designed as daughter boards, plug directly into a MicroTCA system backplane, thus extending the market for AdvancedMC cards and providing an existing supplier base for MicroTCA, the group said.

“MicroTCA extends PICMG’s coverage of telecom and wireless infrastructure equipment,” said Joe Pavlat, president of PICMG, in a statement. “PICMG now has open specifications that can be used to build modular equipment from the edge to the core of the network, as well as in other market segments.”

The MicroTCA specification will be distributed free to PICMG members and is available for purchase by non-members.