Ericsson is expanding its end-to-end 5G Platform by adding new hardware and software products to the Ericsson Radio System portfolio. Ericsson is also eyeing on strengthening its end-to-end mobile transport solutions by building on its radio expertise and adding transport technologies from Juniper Networks and ECI.
RAN Compute
Ericsson is launching the RAN Compute portfolio, which responds to service provider’s need for flexibility in the deployment of Radio Access Network (RAN) software and hardware functions. RAN Compute is an architecture that allows service providers to flexibly distribute RAN functions – such as beamforming and radio control – where it is needed to fine-tune use of case performance while also lowering total cost of ownership.
The RAN Compute portfolio includes all the current basebands in addition to four new RAN Compute products that are cliamed to provide up to three times the capacity of current basebands. Two new RAN Compute Basebands enable service providers to deploy RAN functions centrally, or at the radio site, while two new RAN Compute Radio Processors enable RAN functions to be placed closer to the radio.
Network migration with Ericsson Spectrum Sharing
The company is also launching its new Ericsson Spectrum Sharing software to give service providers an opportunity to turn on 5G and speed up network coverage.
As told by the company, Spectrum Sharing enables a smooth and fast network migration through the simultaneous and dynamic support of 4G and 5G within the same spectrum band using the Ericsson Radio System, once operators are ready to make the transition. The new functionality can be implemented through a remote software installation on Ericsson Radio System radios shipped since 2015.
Street Macro and integrated transport
Ericsson also announced today new transport solutions adapted to create an integrated and complete Street Macro solution for millimeter wave 5G deployment. This is required to manage data traffic in areas where there is the highest demand – cities.
All solutions will become commercially available in the second half of 2019.
End to end transport solutions for 5G
With its focus on transport between radio and core functions, Ericsson delivers transport portfolios specifically for backhaul and fronthaul. Ericsson’s flagship mobile backhaul product – Router 6000 – empowers close to 60 operators. Reportedly, more than 110 operators also use Ericsson’s 5G-ready microwave technology, MINI-LINK solutions.
To support its end-to-end 5G transport portfolio, Ericsson is now extending its partnership with Juniper Networks. Ericsson’s Router 6000 product family will be complemented by Juniper’s edge and core solutions which, according to Ericsson, provides seamless connectivity from radio cell site to core, thereby guarantying the performance, quality and ease-of-use of the 5G system.
Ericsson is also complementing its optical transport offering for metro with a new partnership with ECI, a global provider of elastic network solutions. With ECI as partner, Ericsson is eyeing on deliver newly-enhanced optical transport solutions for service providers, as well as critical infrastructure customers.
