Ericsson's new wireless access system

Ericsson's new wireless access system - dynamically allocating speeds up to 37 Mbps Ericsson launches a new Wireless Broadband Access system. A high performance point-to-multipoint system, providing small and medium sized businesses with dynamically allocated access speeds up to 37 Mbps per user. For operators this represents a quantum leap in comparison with today's wireless access speeds. The MINI-LINK BAS, broadband access system bridges the wireline and wireless network, providing optimized handling of bandwidth-hungry IP services, multimedia, e-mailing and video conferencing. The use of ATM provides efficient support for existing applications, such as telephony, as well as future real-time IP based applications. Altogether, the system provides an efficient new solution to handle the convergence of datacoms and telecoms. It is initially targeted for small and medium sized businesses that want a scaleable system for datacom and telecom services. "The new solution is based on Ericsson's world-leading MINI-LINK product family. We're the world market leader in microwave access systems, with more than 30 percent world market share. This position, in fact, is more than double that of our nearest competitor," said Sivert Bergman, Executive Vice President, Ericsson Microwave and head of Business Unit Transmission Solutions. Ericsson's market leading position is, to a large extent, the result of the MINI-LINK family's unmatched reliability - with documented MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) figures well exceeding 30 years. MINI-LINK BAS is the first point-to-multipoint access system to fully leverage on the benefits of using TDMA technology, together with ATM, for broadband access capacities. In comparison to other available technologies, TDMA provides the best solution for handling very fast, dynamic-capacity allocation, which is a requirement for statistical multiplexing of the burst traffic sources in a wireless broadband access system. Users will experience a new service dimension through Ericsson's F-DCA (Fast Dynamic Capacity Allocation) which is incorporated into the MINI-LINK BAS solution. The system dynamically and instantaneously allocates capacity between 0 to 37 Mbps to any user within the coverage area - the system handles cells with a typical radius of 5 kilometers - providing superior support for growing IP traffic with robust carrier class quality. This corresponds to peak capacities that are in the order of 200 times faster than traditional ISDN connections, or 10 to 20 times faster than traditional T1/E1 leased lines. The user interfaces, correspondingly, are open broadband interfaces, such as 10BaseT and 100BaseT Ethernet, supporting dynamic IP traffic. Traditional E1/T1 leased line interfaces are also supported. The combination of TDMA and ATM, together with Ericsson's unique and rapid MAC (Media Access Control), facilitates instantaneous statistical multiplexing of IP traffic over the radio carrier. The MAC protocol is optimized for data traffic and TDMA ensures fast capacity allocation, frequency efficiency and efficient utilization of the valuable core network resources. ATM supports differentiation of service classes and convergence between telephony and data. It provides a superior solution for VPN and bundled business class services, such as LAN-LAN interconnect, high speed Internet access, at speeds up to 37 Mbps, combined with real-time services such as fixed PBX connections. In the system, ATM cross-connects is used in the base stations to concentrate traffic from several radio carriers. This results in a feature rich, and cost efficient, system with optimized use of core resources. The base stations allow local "intrahub" connections to be set up without the use of a core ATM switch. LAN-LAN and PBX-PBX interconnections are set up either within each radio carrier, each base station, or in cross-connect points, eliminating the need for distributed ATM switches and significantly reduces the backhaul requirements. In a technological breakthrough for commercial use, MINI-LINK BAS also incorporates highly sophisticated space and defense technology, resulting in a remarkably lightweight and compact radio unit. The technology is known as MMIC (Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits). The MINI-LINK BAS radio units are one of the first microwave radio terminals fully designed in MMIC technology for commercial high volume deployment. Trials are underway in the US and Europe, with commercial volume deliveries starting second half of this year. Ericsson's existing flexible high volume production facilities for the market-leading MINI-LINK product family, and the MMIC technology, assures fast and reliable delivery of commercial products in high volumes. The system operates in the 24 to 31 GHz frequency band, including European ETSI bands, US LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution System) bands, as well as Canadian bands. Several countries in Europe and South America are currently in the process of licensing spectrum. Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over. Please visit Ericsson's Press Room at: http://www.ericsson.se/pressroom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Hans Herbertsson, Marketing Manager, MINI-LINK BAS Ericsson Business Unit Transmission Solutions Phone: +46 31 747 3229, +46 70 987 3229 E-mail: hans.herbertsson@emw.ericsson.se Johan Wiklund, Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 560 0134; E-mail: johan.wiklund@lme.ericsson.se