A node unit for a scalable telecommunications system, the node unit comprising: a plurality of universal digital RF transceiver modules, each of which is configured to communicatively couple the node unit to respective external equipment; one or more universal digital transport interface modules, each of which is configured to communicatively couple the node unit to a respective transport link; a universal backplane module communicatively coupled to the universal digital RF transceiver modules and to the one or more universal digital transport interface modules; and a system controller; wherein the node unit is configured to have inserted therein a respective power amplifier module and duplexing module for each universal digital RF transceiver module; wherein the node unit is configured to communicatively couple an input of each power amplifier module to an output of the respective universal digital RF transceiver module; wherein the node unit is configured to communicatively couple each universal digital RF transceiver module to the respective external equipment via the respective duplexing module; wherein at least one of the universal digital RF transceiver modules, the universal digital transport interface modules, the universal backplane module, or the respective power amplifier module and duplexing module comprises a respective module identifier; wherein the system controller is configured to read the at least one respective module identifier and to configure the operation of at least one of the universal digital RF transceiver modules, the universal digital transport interface modules, and the universal backplane module based on the at least one respective module identifier; wherein the universal digital RF transceiver modules, the universal digital transport interface module, and the universal backplane module can be used for multiple frequency, power, or technology combinations. a plurality of universal digital RF transceiver modules, each of which is configured to communicatively couple the node unit to respective external equipment; one or more universal digital transport interface modules, each of which is configured to communicatively couple the node unit to a respective transport link; a universal backplane module communicatively coupled to the universal digital RF transceiver modules and to the one or more universal digital transport interface modules; and a system controller; wherein the node unit is configured to have inserted therein a respective power amplifier module and duplexing module for each universal digital RF transceiver module; wherein the node unit is configured to communicatively couple an input of each power amplifier module to an output of the respective universal digital RF transceiver module; wherein the node unit is configured to communicatively couple each universal digital RF transceiver module to the respective external equipment via the respective duplexing module; wherein at least one of the universal digital RF transceiver modules, the universal digital transport interface modules, the universal backplane module, or the respective power amplifier module and duplexing module comprises a respective module identifier; wherein the system controller is configured to read the at least one respective module identifier and to configure the operation of at least one of the universal digital RF transceiver modules, the universal digital transport interface modules, and the universal backplane module based on the at least one respective module identifier; wherein the universal digital RF transceiver modules, the universal digital transport interface module, and the universal backplane module can be used for multiple frequency, power, or technology combinations.