Ericsson and Swisscom solve seamless, high-performing indoor connectivity
Learn how Swisscom utilized the Indoor Connect 8855 to revolutionize the end-user experience in a leading hotel and beyond.
Executive summary
Highlights
Legacy Distributed Antenna System (DAS) are increasingly being replaced by the Ericsson Radio Dot system to ensure superior indoor 5G performance and energy-efficiency. The Radio Dot has won many design awards for its sleek design and ease of deployment, and was a revolution when it first hit the market.
But up until 2021, only service providers with Ericsson basebands were able to connect to the Radio Dot System, making truly ubiquitous multi-operator indoor coverage tricky. Installing multiple systems and antennas meant a more expensive installment, higher equipment footprint, and a greater environmental impact for businesses.
The hotel required a single, discreet, multi-operator solution that could also support service providers with different vendors.
Enter Indoor Connect 8855.
The challenge
The issue of allowing multiple Communication Service Providers (CSPs) to connect their third-party equipment to the indoor Radio Dot was not a unique request from the hotel. Stadiums, hospitals, shopping centers and railway stations; all indoor locations with users connected to different service providers, were other places where a collaborative, indoor multi-operator, multi-vendor model could be applied.
Swisscom’s testing lab became the epicenter for ensuring that the new technology would also work for their competitors and therefore their customers. A truly unique approach in ensuring seamless connectivity for all.
The solution
After working together to create a suitable solution, the Indoor Connect 8855 was selected, offering independent connection for up to four CSPs.
Swisscom connected their Ericsson baseband and radio unit to the Indoor Connect 8855, which then connected to the Radio Dot system.
Similarly, two other major service providers in Switzerland were offered the opportunity to connect their own equipment to the Indoor Connect, thus serving the guests who used their service.
A multi-operator, multi-vendor model for high-performing indoor connectivity was launched.
The result
All hotel guests and employees now have access to a secure, high-perfoming indoor network, with significantly less cost and power consumption compared to the legacy passive DAS system.
Swisscom has upheld its vision of delivering marketing-leading performance and capacity for all users, regardless of whether they are indoors or out.
