Swisscom and Ericsson have successfully deployed a new fibre-extended reach feature as part of the Ericsson Radio Dot System. This feature allows Swisscom to deliver high-capacity indoor 5G connectivity to enterprise customers within a 10km radius, all from a single centralized location.
Boosting Indoor 5G Connectivity
According to Ericsson, the new feature seamlessly integrates with Ericsson's indoor 5G offering, providing Swisscom with the capability to use fibre and hybrid fibre cables for transmitting power and data to active indoor antennas, known as Radio Dots, from the Indoor Radio Unit (IRU).
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The new feature enables Swisscom to use fibre and hybrid fibre cables to deliver power and data to active indoor antennas (Radio Dots) from the Indoor Radio Unit (IRU) and extend cable reach from 300 m to 10 km.
One of the key benefits of the extended cable reach is the ability to place the IRU remotely, overcoming challenges related to equipment placement on premises, whether due to logistical difficulties or cost constraints.
As a result, Swisscom can now deliver high-capacity indoor 5G to more venues efficiently, reducing the need for on-site equipment by up to 80 percent and minimizing service efforts.
Ericsson says these improvements translate into a reduced total cost of ownership, positioning Swisscom as a leader in delivering cost-effective 5G solutions.
Indoor 5G for Small-to-Medium Enterprises
With greater flexibility in deploying in-building solutions, Swisscom can now offer fast and reliable mobile connectivity to a broader range of small-to-medium enterprise customers, empowering them with seamless digital experiences.
The first deployment of the fibre-extended reach feature took place at a Swisscom store near Bern, Switzerland. By connecting a Radio Dot to a shared IRU located hundreds of meters away in a central office, utilizing the existing fibre infrastructure, Swisscom successfully demonstrated the capabilities of this solution.
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CAT6a cables
Typically, indoor 5G deployments relied on CAT6a cables. However, the utilization of fibre connectivity offers a remarkable improvement in cable reach, increasing it nearly 40 times from 300 meters (equivalent to about three football fields in length) to an impressive 10 kilometres (approximating 110 football fields).
With the fibre-extended reach feature, Swisscom can now seamlessly deliver secure and high-speed indoor 5G connectivity to various small-to-medium enterprise customers, including retail stores, offices, event spaces, and restaurants. This advanced indoor solution not only enhances the mobile experience for customers and employees but also facilitates smoother digital operations for businesses.
According to Ericsson, another notable advantage of this deployment is its ability to serve up to eight small-to-medium venues from a single remote unit. This enhanced reach capability, compatible with both single-operator and multi-operator (neutral host) indoor solutions, opens up new possibilities for efficient and widespread 5G coverage.
The successful deployment of the fibre-extended reach feature by Ericsson and Swisscom marks a significant milestone in the evolution of indoor 5G connectivity.
