How we help service providers make the most of technology innovation

Around 260 communications service providers have launched commercial 5G services so far. 5G marks the fastest growth of any mobile generation, with the projection that by the end of 2023, there will be 1.5 billion subscribers, and by the end of 2028, a stunning 4.6 billion.??

Innovation is the key driver of this growth.??

We are always striving to be innovative, a leader in technology, and, not to forget, have sustainability also top of mind. For us, that’s the right way to thrive in the tech market.?

So, which recent achievements in technologies such as Cloud RAN and Fixed Wireless Access or 5G enhanced capabilities in areas like carrier aggregation and indoor 5G connectivity can we showcase here???

In this newsletter, read about a couple of exciting tech milestones that enable new services and eliminate the digital divide. Learn about pioneering trials and deployments we have achieved with our partners.??

Paving the way for lower-complexity and lower-cost 5G RedCap devices?

We’ve tested Ericsson Reduced Capability (RedCap) – the new technology that paves the way for a multitude of devices such as consumer wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers, and mobile medical devices) and enterprise IoT devices with lower complexity and extended battery life.??

Find out about the results of data and voice (VoNR) sessions over Verizon’s 5G network using Ericsson's new RedCap-compatible software and MediaTek’s RedCap testing platform. Read the news article: Ericsson, Verizon, MediaTek complete Redcap 5G sessions.?

Then, moving from the US to another part of the world – Australia: we partnered with Optus and MediaTek to accomplish Australia’s first over-the-air data call using our pre-commercial RedCap software on Optus’ 5G network. And we partnered with Telstra to make the Australian first Voice over New Radio call using RedCap on Telstra’s commercial 5G network.?

Great news for Fixed Wireless Access users – upload speeds going up

The uplink speed can significantly impact time-to-content, especially when it comes to data-heavy applications such as cloud gaming and extended reality. In the case of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), getting the uplink right requires a highly tuned, customized solution comprising a blend of hardware and software systems and software algorithms that keep everything running with a high level of performance. This is why interoperability tests are crucial to ensuring the best possible user experience. ? ?

In one of such interoperability tests with our chipset partner MediaTek, we achieved a record upload speed of 565 Mbps. In reaching this incredible milestone for the FWA market, two Ericsson software features – uplink single user multiple input multiple output (SU-MIMO) and Uplink Carrier Aggregation – were combined on MediaTek T830 CPE platform with three transmit (3Tx) antennas. ? ?

Read about the new record upload speed to benefit FWA market.?

?

How service providers can improve network flexibility, scalability, and network automation – with Cloud RAN?

A key shift in future mobile networks we see is toward the cloud and automation, and we partner with leading technology companies to bring the benefits of cloud-native networks to the industry. We collaborate to accelerate the development and deployment of high-performance and cost-efficient Open RAN at scale.?

Cloud RAN technology supports communications service providers in gaining flexibility and scalability in their network evolution.?

With our partners, HPE and Intel, we made the first Cloud RAN call with Intel’s latest generation processor on the HPE server. This achievement accelerates the availability of Cloud RAN advancements. It is an important step toward a fully commercialized Cloud RAN solution based on HPE ProLiant DL110 servers.??

Read more about Ericsson, Intel, and HPE cooperation in making first Cloud RAN call.?

?

World’s first downlink 6CC data call – improved experience for downlink-heavy applications?

Carrier Aggregation is crucial to getting the best possible 5G performance out of scattered spectrum assets. It combines multiple frequency bands to offer more bandwidth, which results in faster data speed. Each frequency band is then called a “component carrier”.??

By blending six component carriers (6CC) – a new band combination – we can maximize the use of the allocated spectrum and optimize the combined bandwidth for a superior mobile experience.?

In the testing carried out in an Ericsson lab with a user equipment simulator, we set the record download speed of 5.7Gbps for the world’s first 6CC data call. The call was achieved using three FDD (frequency division duplex) bands combined with three TDD (time division duplex) bands in sub-6GHz, enabled by Ericsson RAN Compute hardware, state-of-the-art carrier aggregation software, and Advanced RAN Coordination functionality.?

Learn more about how Ericsson hit 5.7Gbps record speed in downlink 6CC data call.?

?

Extending the indoor 5G connectivity from 300 m to 10 km

Delivering high-capacity indoor 5G to enterprise customers within a 10 km radius from one centralized location – how incredible does it sound? That’s what we did together with Swisscom!???

The first-time deployment of the Radio Dot System’s new fiber-extended reach feature, which enabled Swisscom to extend cable reach from 300 m to 10 km, was completed in July. The feature complements our indoor 5G offering – the Ericsson Radio Dot System. It allows Swisscom to serve more venues with high-capacity indoor 5G faster with up to 80 percent less equipment needed on-premises and less service effort – reducing total cost of ownership.?

Learn more about the first-time deployment of new Radio Dot System feature.?

It’s great to know that our efforts to test and provide advanced technologies were recognized also by independent technological research and consulting firms.?

We were named a Leader in the 2023 Magic Quadrant? for 5G Network Infrastructure for Communications Service Providers report by Gartner ?. And it happened for the third year in a row.??

We were also named the market leader in global 5G network infrastructure by Frost & Sullivan in their Frost Radar?: Global 5G Network Infrastructure Market 2023 report, as well for the third consecutive year.?

Thanks to all our partners! And excellent job, everyone ?????

Stay with us to learn about the coming achievements that help our customers thrive in the hyper-dynamic technology market. The latest news is always available on our website and, of course, here on LinkedIn and on X. ?