Page 47 - EngineerIT November 2021

INDUSTRY, TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCTS and INNOVATION you want to read about

Ericsson adds light weight radio to Massive MIMO portfolio for

easier 5G mid-band deployment

ricsson has unveiled the latest addition to and Massive MIMO technology are important to our 5G network strategy to deliver the best customer
Eits Massive MIMO portfolio – the ultra- experience in urban areas.
lightweight antenna-integrated radio AIR 3268 – David Hammarwall, head of product line radio at Ericsson, says: “We continue to revolutionise
for easier and efficient 5G mid-band deployments Massive MIMO with ultra-lightweight radios that allow easier site upgrades and more seamless 5G
in dense urban and suburban areas. mid-band deployments. AIR 3268 widens the options for the radio site, allowing service providers to
At 12 kg and 23 litres, AIR 3268 is the boost their networks and deliver faster 5G speeds and response times. It is also energy-efficient, which
lightest and smallest Massive MIMO radio in is important.”
the industry. With 200W output power, 32 With its size and weight, AIR 3268 will simplify upgrades and new site acquisitions even in locations
transceivers and passive cooling, the radio where footprint may prove challenging. The new radio also supports Ericsson’s mini bracket, providing
weighs about 40 percent less than the earlier lower total weight and easier installations.
generation, making installations easy not only AIR 3268 joins the family of ultra-lightweight radios launched in February this year. Like the rest of
on towers and rooftops, but also on poles and the company’s Massive MIMO radios, it is designed with Ericsson Silicon, providing real-time channel
walls. estimation and ultra-precise beamforming that improves coverage and user experience.
The radio will help to accelerate 5G mid- Ericsson also offers optimised site solutions with integrated transport for dense urban areas as part
band deployment for communications service of its comprehensive transport and site solutions portfolio.
providers seeking to boost capacity, coverage,
speeds, and mobile experiences for their
subscribers.
Ericsson’s latest radio is 10 percent more
energy-efficient than the earlier generation,
lowering the total added power consumption
when introducing 5G on mid-band. It also
supports Ericsson’s unique Massive MIMO
architecture and uplink booster capabilities that
deliver leading network performance.
Ericsson has developed AIR 3268 in
partnership with BT to address 5G challenges.
Through the development process, the ultra-
lightweight radio has been designed for 5G
mid-band Massive MIMO performance to
deliver the benefits of deployment simplicity
and improved energy efficiency.
Greg McCall, Managing Director of Service
Platforms, BT Group, says: “The 3.5 GHz band

Vodacom outperforms on ESG goals, ranks ESG in action
Vodacom became the first South African telco
first in Sustainalytics report to secure an ESG loan when it concluded
an agreement with Standard Bank South
Africa (SBSA) in 2019. The interest rate
ustainalytics - the largest independent Vodacom pays on the loan is directly linked
Sprovider of environmental, social and to the company’s ESG performance, which is
governance (ESG) research and ratings - has measured against Sustainalytics’ international
ranked Vodacom Group as the world’s number benchmarks.
one telecommunications service company “Times have changed, and corporates
based on ESG performance. need to be more socially and environmentally
Indicative of how Vodacom has accelerated responsible,” says Vodacom group CEO Shameel
its commitment to sustainable development Joosub. “Vodacom has moved away from the
action, the 2021 Sustainalytics report saw traditional profit-led mindset to embrace a
the company improve to first place from purpose-led approach. This is how we keep
second place in 2020 out of 221 companies in ESG performance top of mind to ensure our
the sector. In terms of risk globally, Vodacom business success doesn’t come at the expense
has moved from sixth to fourth place out of of the planet and the people it supports,”
12 965 companies, which is no small feat. Vodacom group CEO Shameel Joosub. explains Joosub.

EngineerIT | November 2021 | 45