Telecom operators such as Swisscom, Telstra, Ooredoo and Play have started using Ericsson spectrum sharing in order to cost-effectively launch 5G network.
Ericsson also announced that its dynamic spectrum sharing solution is commercially available, allowing telecommunications service providers to cost-effectively launch 5G on a nationwide scale.

Features of Ericsson’s Spectrum Sharing solution

Ericsson’s Spectrum Sharing solution allows telecom operators to deploy both 4G and 5G in the same band and on the same radio through a software upgrade – dynamically allocating spectrum based on user demand on a 1 millisecond basis.

Ericsson’s dynamic spectrum sharing is the most economically feasible way to deploy 5G on existing bands – enabling wide 5G coverage from day one – making more efficient use of spectrum and delivering superior user performance.

Fredrik Jejdling, head of Networks, Ericsson, said: “For the first time, our customers do not have to re-farm spectrum before deploying a new ‘G’ and can quickly get 5G on the same footprint as they have with 4G today.”

Ericsson said more than 80 percent of the commercial 5G networks it support will use spectrum sharing solution to achieve 5G coverage — in the next 12 months.

Julian Bright, senior analyst, Ovum/Omdia, said: “Ericsson Spectrum Sharing will mean that service providers can rapidly roll out 5G on their FDD bands without the need to re-invest. It means they can use both their new and existing bands for 5G services.”

Swisscom

Swisscom launched commercial 5G services in April 2019. In December 2019, Swisscom achieved nationwide 5G coverage and is upgrading their network with Ericsson Spectrum Sharing.

“Customers benefit from 5G in no time and operators use their precious spectrum in the most efficient manner. “We already reached nationwide coverage with 90 percent of the population with 5G,” Christoph Aeschlimann, head of IT, Network & Infrastructure Group division, Swisscom, said.

Telstra

Telstra Australia launched its commercial 5G network in Australia and has now rolled out 5G coverage in 32 metropolitan and regional cities around the country with the help of Ericsson, its key 5G network partner.

“Ericsson Spectrum Sharing will continue to play a crucial role in helping Telstra pave the way for a faster rollout of 5G, allowing us to serve the needs of 4G and 5G customers in the same location at the same time,” Channa Seneviratne, Network and Engineering Infrastructure Executive, Telstra, said.

Ooredoo

Ooredoo, after going live with 5G on 3.5 GHz band in Doha, is taking the next step to make its Supernet fully 5G-enabled across the country with Ericsson Spectrum Sharing.

“Ericsson Spectrum Sharing comes as an innovation that shares spectrum between 4G and 5G carriers based on traffic demand. This enables us to use our spectrum assets efficiently by driving 5G-wide coverage roll-out quickly, smoothly and cost efficiently,” Waleed Al Sayed, chief executive officer of Ooredoo Qatar, said.

Play

Play, a mobile service provider provider in Poland, has deployed Ericsson Spectrum Sharing on its commercial network.

“The 5G network in Legionowo is yet another proof of Play’s technological advancement in 5G and an important milestone in our strategy to expand and modernize our network,” said Jean Marc Harion, CEO of Play.