Ericsson and Vodafone have begun installing new 5G antennas in the UK, aiming to increase capacity, coverage and performance.
According to the press release, the antenna does not create any additional footprint.
According to the announcement, the installed antenna is the AIR 3218, a compact active/passive antenna with integrated radio and multiband passive antenna technology, all in one housing.
game changer
The companies say that by incorporating the radio and antenna into a single unit, the antenna can be easily installed on rooftops, towers, walls and poles. This should make it easier to upgrade and acquire land and speed up the rollout of 5G, especially in places where building regulations and planning laws are an obstacle. The companies expect the AIR 3218 to be deployed at 50 sites within Vodafone’s UK network this year. He also said he expects land acquisition and construction time to be reduced by 30%.
“This is a game-changer for Vodafone and the rollout of 5G Massive MIMO in the UK,” commented Evangelia Zifa, Chief Technology Officer, Networks and Managed Services, Ericsson UK & Ireland. “Together, we are increasing 5G capacity without increasing the visual antenna footprint in the field. By enabling us to do more with less, we As well as bringing the benefits of next-generation connectivity to more people in the UK, we continue our work to reduce our impact on the environment and beat the energy curve.”
As mobile networks accelerate the rollout of 5G, consumers are increasingly demanding data. As data traffic volumes increase and the number of 5G subscribers increases, carriers will require greater flexibility, spectrum efficiency and energy savings, the announcement argues. Both organizations hope to accomplish just that with a single antenna footprint and massive MIMO (multiple input multiple output) technology.
5G is expected to be more disruptive than artificial intelligence (AI) as businesses deploy countless internet-connected devices, sensors, smart hardware, and more.
