When it comes to wireless infrastructure, even the sleekest new technology may never get off the ground if it is difficult to deploy. No one knows this better than Ericsson, the world’s largest maker of mobile communications equipment. The company says its new radio system will change the way mobile networks are deployed.
Simplicity and flexibility are the goals of Ericsson’s newest offering, unveiled this week in advance of Mobile World Congress. The company’s newest base station is half the size of its predecessor, and the radio modules can be mounted vertically or horizontally on a rail, flat on a cable ladder or behind an antenna.
Ericsson said it “slashed the size and weight in half across the product line only after we secured performance.” Integrated backhaul and backward compatibility are two key elements of that performance. Ericsson said operators can integrate the new system with its existing RBS 6000 portfolio.
For mobile operators, finding real estate on which to deploy more cell sites is a growing challenge as demand for coverage intensifies in the most crowded urban areas. Ericsson claims that its new system will eliminate most site acquisition issues since the rail system can be mounted almost anywhere.
The infrastructure vendor said its new radio system will enable operators to safely increase tower capacity by up to 400%. This implies a huge cost savings for carriers and tower owners, as many towers now require structural modifications in order to support the weight of additional radios.
Operators will probably be weighing those expected cost savings against the cost of acquiring new equipment to boost capacity. Huawei and ZTE have historically offered radio equipment at lower prices than Ericsson, so now the telecom equipment giant needs to convince customers that the best way to reduce their total cost of ownership is to invest in a game-changing solution.
Follow me on Twitter.
