Ola Gustafsson, head of the Ericsson MINI-LINK Product Line, says MINI-LINK E was developed in cooperation with leading GSM operators as a voice-oriented TDMA- (Time Division Multiple Access) based solution for transmission to base stations.

MINI-LINK TN, Gustafsson says, is a multi-service node-handling Ethernet and ATM in parallel with legacy technologies, such as PDH (Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy) and SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy). It has been created for mobile-broadband data services enabled by technologies such as HSPA.

"MINI-LINK TN is the node that handles the backhaul transmission migration to packet-oriented networks," Gustafsson says. "MINI-LINK TN R4 fully supports Ericsson's vision of all IP RAN over Ethernet."

The bulk of Ericsson's installed MINI-LINK base is of type E. Many operators are now planning to update this equipment to support the need for mobile broadband. "Going from MINI-LINK E to MINI-LINK TN is the simplest way of doing this," Gustafsson says. "It can be done by only changing the indoor unit, reusing the radio, antennas, and other outdoor parts. Furthermore, our solution enables E and TN to work in parallel. It is essential that every MINI-LINK E customer know about our unique offer."

Another advantage with the solution, Gustafsson says, is the possibility to limit the upgrade of the equipment to the parts of the network where there is a need for packet data.

Gustafsson says that going from a MINI-LINK E to a MINI-LINK TN network provides: carrier-grade packet introduction; a mix of aggregation and capacity increase; an invest-as-you-grow possibility; and a future-proof network.

One example of an operator that has recently made a successful MINI-LINK upgrade is Turkey's Turkcell, a long-term customer and partner to Ericsson. In 2007, Ericsson started to upgrade Turkcell's installed base of more than 10,000 MINI-LINK E to MINI-LINK TN.

Ilter Terzioglu, CTO, Turkcell, describes the operator's strategy and how Ericsson is contributing. "We're working closely with Ericsson to expand our capacity to meet our ongoing business growth," he says. "By implementing MINI-LINK TN, we've secured both our capacity expansion and our future move to an all-IP network."