New MINI-LINK products launched for small cells

• Expanded capability gives operators greater flexibility to deploy MINI-LINK products as backhaul solutions for small cells, thereby enabling high network performance
• MINI-LINK performance proven for non-line-of-sight usage
• New additions to MINI-LINK portfolio include several IP-based backhaul products catering for mobile-broadband growth

Providing seamless network performance in dense city environments is a challenge. The large number of buildings and other obstacles makes it difficult to lay cables and complicates wireless connections that typically rely on microwave transmission using line-of-sight (LOS) propagation. This means there can be no buildings, trees or hills between antennas.

To overcome this problem, Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) has now validated that MINI-LINK products in traditional frequency bands can operate in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions with high performance, in trials with MetroPCS in Los Angeles, USA. In addition, Ericsson is launching MINI-LINK products for small cells, including the MINI-LINK 3060 that was shown as a concept at the 2012 Mobile World Congress.

"NLOS microwave is a critical component of building backhaul networks where clutter is an issue and especially for heterogeneous networks," said Malcolm Lorang, co-founder, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of MetroPCS. "We are pleased with the results of the MINI-LINK trial in the challenging Los Angeles environment and look forward to further testing."

Ola Gustafsson, Head of Product Line Microwave and Mobile Backhaul, Ericsson says: "Conventional NLOS products work in the sub-6GHz band using OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) technology, for multipath handling. The problem is that the available spectrum below 6GHz is very limited and would be insufficient for small-cell backhaul. Ericsson has now proved, with extensive research, that MINI-LINK products operating in the 23-60GHz bands offer higher throughput and increased stability compared with sub-6 systems also under NLOS conditions. This expands the possibilities to deploy MINI-LINK as the backhaul solution for small cells, thereby enabling increased network performance."

MINI-LINK is designed for hops over several kilometers, with a market-leading system gain and very robust equalizers. Over short hops, diffraction and reflections caused by the environment can actually be used to overcome obstructions between the macro layer nodes that are often positioned on top of high buildings, and the small cells positioned at street level. With this approach, throughput will be very high and stable, which is important for mobile backhaul.

Ericsson is also launching several IP-based backhaul products to cater for mobile broadband growth and to execute on its 4G IP network vision. These products will extend its leading MINI-LINK portfolio with IP/MPLS (multiprotocol label switching) support for fiber- and/or microwave-based backhaul, innovative design in the 60GHz band for small-cell deployments and an enhanced Gbps solution in the E-band. The MINI-LINK LH has also been expanded by the addition of a compact solution for cost-efficient migration to packet and modular site solutions.

In addition to helping operators prepare all-IP networks, these new products offer benefits such as high system gain for improved performance, spectrum efficiency,  synchronization solutions, end-to-end QoS support, as well as integrated aggregation for both TDM (time division multiplex) and packet traffic.

The products being launched are:

·      MINI-LINK SP 415 and 420 - packet aggregation nodes for L3 VPN based on IP/MPLS

·      MINI-LINK PT 3060 - microwave node optimized for small-cell deployments (60GHz)

·      MINI-LINK PT 6020 - 1Gbps (in one 250MHz carrier) microwave node in the E- band (70-80GHz)

·      MINI-LINK LH Compact - long-haul microwave solution for reuse of existing cabinets.

NOTES TO EDITORS

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Ericsson is the world's leading provider of communications technology and services. We are enabling the Networked Society with efficient real-time solutions that allow us all to study, work and live our lives more freely, in sustainable societies around the world.

Our offering comprises services, software and infrastructure within Information and Communications Technology for telecom operators and other industries. Today more than 40 percent of the world's mobile traffic goes through Ericsson networks and we support customers' networks servicing more than 2.5 billion subscribers. 

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