How Ericsson’s New 5G Radios Boost Performance & Efficiency

Ericsson has committed to expanding its portfolio with seven new energy-efficient and high-performing Massive MIMO and Remote radios, Indoor 5G solutions and new open fronthaul products called RAN Connect.

The innovations are designed to reduce energy consumption by up to 30%, lower operational costs and cut embodied carbon footprint by up to 50%. This, in turn, will enable the telco to support more efficient network deployments.

The company is currently on track to offer 130 radio products to support open and programmable networks during 2025, ensuring flexibility, scalability and future-proof network evolution.

Mårten Lerner, Head of Product Area Networks at Ericsson, explains: “With 5G expected to carry 80% of total mobile data traffic by the end of 2030, we see an industry need for 5G equipment that strikes the perfect balance between superior performance, best-in-class TCO, and unmatched sustainability. 

“The ultra-light radios simplify deployment, and the interleaved antennas optimise site usage by integrating multiple M-MIMO frequency bands.”

Meeting high-speed network requirements

The telecoms industry is engaging more frequently with high-performing programmable networks worldwide, which is why Ericsson is eager to boost its portfolio to meet future needs.

Ahead of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, the company is introducing innovative new radios, antennas and open fronthaul solutions. Referred to as RAN Connect, these solutions are designed to empower communications service providers (CSPs) and remain competitive in the industry. 

These products will make up more than two-thirds of the company's deliveries in 2025 and provide CSPs with the programmability and future-proof network evolution necessary to stay ahead in the industry.

Programmability will also leverage Ericsson’s many-core architecture and extensive sleep modes within Ericsson Silicon to implement intents such as energy savings without compromising customer experience.

The portfolio enhancements are led by the flagship product, AIR 3266, a wide-band TDD (Time Division Duplexing) Massive MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) radio with 400W output power.

RAN Connect consists of a set of transformative, open fronthaul solutions that maximise scalability and efficiency. They allow CSPs to aggregate radio traffic, unlocking the full potential of modern RAN Compute capabilities and leaves Ericsson as a leader in next-generation RAN evolution.

Mårten adds: “With cutting-edge hardware designs, we are reducing costs and maximising efficiency for our customers as they evolve their architectures to deliver high-performing programmable networks that cover all connectivity needs.”

A sustainable refocus

As part of its expanded offerings, sustainability has been placed at the forefront. With telcos engaging more with emerging technologies, it is becoming essential for the industry to engage with new strategies that support lowering emissions.

“Sustainability is also central to every solution, leveraging energy-efficient designs, recyclable materials, and passive cooling to meet net zero targets,” Mårten explains. “These advancements embody the artistry of network evolution.”

Ericsson is also introducing new antennas to empower superior network coverage, but also to make its networks more energy efficient. 

Its flagship Antenna 4818 achieves superior energy efficiency with electrical and beam efficiencies of up to 85%, combined with exceptional passive intermodulation (PIM) performance. 

It also supports simplified and sustainable deployment thanks to wind load, 37% lighter weight and 42% reduced embodied carbon footprint.

Likewise, its Power D620 product enables remote management of power and minimises the need for on-site intervention. Its energy slicing capability prioritises critical services and is able to ensure extended uptime during critical network events. 

“If we focus on delivering the right performance when needed and scaling it back when it is not, we can lower our total cost of ownership and strike the right balance,” says Mark Düsener, Chief Technology & Information Officer at Swisscom.

“Thanks to Ericsson’s innovative products, we can optimise efficiency while meeting evolving demands. New use cases and devices will drive up energy consumption, making the infrastructure we build more important than ever.”

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