dtac selects Ericsson for first 5G-ready Massive MIMO rollout on live network in Thailand

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has been chosen by Thai service provider, Total Access Communication PLC (dtac), to deploy the country's first 4G TDD Massive MIMO 64T64R Live on a 2300 MHz Ericsson Radio System network. As part of the rollout of the TDD network, which dtac and Ericsson started earlier this year in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area and the Central-East and West regions of Thailand. Now 5G-ready Massive MIMO 64T64R solutions will be also deployed – an innovation that will bring 5G technology to dtac Turbo.
The deployment of Massive MIMO radios on the dtac LTE network will significantly increase the network capacity so that the end-user experience, even in densely populated areas and high-rise buildings, will be significantly enhanced. The deployment of 5G-ready Massive MIMO 64T64R increases capacity by transmitting data to multiple user devices using the same time and frequency resources with coordinated beam forming and beam steering. This results in increasing user data speeds and providing significant increases in capacity on the same spectrum.
dtac has tested and started deployment 5G-Ready Massive MIMO 64T64R to serve people in dense urban high-rise areas. The result is achieving 4-5 times improvement of cell throughput by activating Massive MIMO and Multi-user MIMO compared to normal operation.

Prathet Tankuranun, Chief Technology Officer, dtac, says: "dtac plans to continue expanding its dtac Turbo network on 2300 MHz in a partnership agreement with TOT in Bangkok city and across the country to support our customers' growing mobile data consumption. Working with Ericsson to deploy 5G-ready Massive MIMO 64T64R on our 4G TDD network is key to this plan. We believe that it will not only enhance dtac Turbo customer experience but will enable a seamlessly transition to 5G."

Nadine Allen, Head of Ericsson Thailand, says: "Our 5G-ready Massive MIMO technology will boost the capacity of dtac's LTE network and enable top-quality, high-speed data services to its customers especially in high-rise buildings and densely populated areas like Bangkok , where it is most required. The deployment of our Massive MIMO technology will play an important role in the current evolution of mobile communication by easing the journey to 5G for dtac."
Ericsson is extending the Ericsson Radio System to deliver new radio access products and functionality to smooth the operator's transformation journey to 5G. Ericsson Radio System extensions deliver a high performance, end-to-end 5G access system which includes the industry's first global portfolio of 5G NR radios.
Ericsson is also first to market with solutions that enable 4G LTE networks to evolve smoothly on the journey to 5G, such as Ericsson's new 5G platform for combined core and radio use cases. The platform comprises the 5G core, radio and transport portfolios, together with digital support systems, transformation services and security.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About dtac
Total Access Communication PLC or dtac is a leading mobile operator in Thailand, providing 4G, 3G, and 2G services. Through its highly-advanced digitalization initiatives, dtac (Stock Exchange of Thailand symbol: DTAC) is committed to continually improving its mobile services, connecting its customers to what matters most, and empowering society. www.dtac.co.th.

ABOUT ERICSSON
Ericsson enables communications service providers to capture the full value of connectivity. The company's portfolio spans Networks, Digital Services, Managed Services, and Emerging Business and is designed to help our customers go digital, increase efficiency, and find new revenue streams. Ericsson's investments in innovation have delivered the benefits of telephony and mobile broadband to billions of people around the world. The Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on Nasdaq New York. www.ericsson.com

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