diff --git a/src/osmo_gsm_tester/obj/osmo_ctrl.py b/src/osmo_gsm_tester/obj/osmo_ctrl.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..312e1e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/osmo_gsm_tester/obj/osmo_ctrl.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+
+# osmo_gsm_tester: specifics for running a sysmoBTS
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2016-2017 by sysmocom - s.f.m.c. GmbH
+#
+# Author: Neels Hofmeyr <neels@hofmeyr.de>
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+# published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+# License, or (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+import socket
+import struct
+
+from ..core import log
+
+class CtrlInterfaceExn(Exception):
+    pass
+
+class OsmoCtrl(log.Origin):
+
+    def __init__(self, host, port):
+        super().__init__(log.C_BUS, 'Ctrl', host=host, port=port)
+        self.host = host
+        self.port = port
+        self.sck = None
+
+    def prefix_ipa_ctrl_header(self, data):
+        if isinstance(data, str):
+            data = data.encode('utf-8')
+        s = struct.pack(">HBB", len(data)+1, 0xee, 0)
+        return s + data
+
+    def remove_ipa_ctrl_header(self, data):
+        if (len(data) < 4):
+            raise CtrlInterfaceExn("Answer too short!")
+        (plen, ipa_proto, osmo_proto) = struct.unpack(">HBB", data[:4])
+        if (plen + 3 > len(data)):
+            self.err('Warning: Wrong payload length', expected=plen, got=len(data)-3)
+        if (ipa_proto != 0xee or osmo_proto != 0):
+            raise CtrlInterfaceExn("Wrong protocol in answer!")
+        return data[4:plen+3], data[plen+3:]
+
+    def connect(self):
+        self.dbg('Connecting')
+        self.sck = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+        self.sck.connect((self.host, self.port))
+        self.sck.setblocking(1)
+
+    def disconnect(self):
+        self.dbg('Disconnecting')
+        if self.sck is not None:
+            self.sck.close()
+
+    def _send(self, data):
+        self.dbg('Sending', data=data)
+        data = self.prefix_ipa_ctrl_header(data)
+        self.sck.send(data)
+
+    def receive(self, length = 1024):
+        data = self.sck.recv(length)
+        self.dbg('Receiving', data=data)
+        return data
+
+    def do_set(self, var, value, id=0):
+        setmsg = "SET %s %s %s" %(id, var, value)
+        self._send(setmsg)
+
+    def do_get(self, var, id=0):
+        getmsg = "GET %s %s" %(id, var)
+        self._send(getmsg)
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        self.connect()
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(self, *exc_info):
+        self.disconnect()
+
+# vim: expandtab tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4