Massive MIMO for high-performing networks

Solutions

Massive MIMO radios

Massive MIMO antenna-integrated radios increase capacity, throughput and coverage in both uplink and downlink, so your networks can meet the demands of modern, data-hungry applications and services.

#MassiveMIMO

Our Massive MIMO portfolio combines low-footprint hardware with sophisticated software to deliver superior performance, sustainability benefits and the best total cost of ownership (TCO) on the market.

The broad portfolio spans Ultralight TDD, Wide-band TDD and Multi-band TDD and FDD options – all powered by the processing power of Ericsson Silicon. Designed with future-proofing in mind. All Massive MIMO antenna-integrated radios from 2020 are Open RAN prepared supporting uplink performance improvement (ULPI).

Named an industry leader for 5G infrastructure by independent analyst firm Gartner’s 2024 Magic Quadrant, our diverse RAN offering features Massive MIMO solutions for a wide-range of deployment scenarios. Whether your focus is on a simplified first rollout or the highest possible network capacity, our solutions deliver excellent performance while minimizing TCO and boosting sustainability.

High performance

Our Massive MIMO portfolio delivers top class performance for the maximum 5G experience. Powered by cutting-edge Ericsson Silicon, standout benefits include significantly expanded bandwidth, a multiplying effect on uplink capacity and greatly improved throughput.

Low TCO

The lightweight, low footprint design of our Massive MIMO radios minimizes TCO by reducing site occupancy, installation burden and energy consumption. The result is greatly improved spectral efficiency from your network without the need to acquire new radio locations or add bulky hardware to current sites.

Greater sustainability

From optimizing our building practice to minimize the footprint of components, to the use of highly energy efficient, resilient thermal and cooling solutions: our Massive MIMO radios are built to deliver sustainability gains without compromising on performance.

Ericsson takes pride in being at the forefront of network technology and our Massive MIMO offering is no exception. It combines hardware and software innovations to maximize performance of 5G multi-layer networks while creating the lowest possible energy burden.

Ericsson Silicon

Ericsson Silicon’s architecture design allows Massive MIMO radios to utilize real-time channel estimation and ultra-precise beamforming for industry-leading coverage and user experience. The advanced processing power underpins software innovations like Ericsson Uplink Booster, further extending coverage and increasing spectral efficiency.

Discover Ericsson Silicon

Radio algorithms

Radio algorithms enable the highest spectral efficiency in networks by controlling downlink transmission so maximum power reaches the expected user while reducing interference towards other users in the network. For the uplink, algorithms work with all receivers to improve sensitivity and suppress interference from the network.

Thermal solutions/passive cooling

A passive cooling design through v-fins maximizes the natural flow of air to keep the radios cooled. As this is achieved without requiring fans, power consumption is reduced while maintenance needs are also minimized by reducing the amount of moving parts required.

Power amplifiers

Harnessing Gallium Nitrade (GaN) power amplifiers allows our Massive MIMO radios to be substantially more energy efficient, with reduced heat dissipation also facilitating a more compact design. Models with wideband power sharing functionality can achieve even further energy efficiency gains.

Filter technology

Filters have a very important role, providing low loss in the frequency range the radio supports, while also having strong suppression of signals outside the wanted operational band.

Developing filters with low volume and weight is fundamental for the final product’s characteristics.

Our Massive MIMO range includes options for ultra-light Time Division Duplex (TDD), wide-band TDD, and multi-band TDD and frequency division duplex (FDD).

Ultralight TDD

Our ultralight TDD radios achieve advantages for performance, energy and footprint in a package as light as 12kg. The flagship AIR 3255 model is the most sustainable Massive MIMO radio to date. It delivers more than 25 percent energy savings, and utilizes low loss small metal filter technology scalable to all TDD sub-6GHz frequency bands to incentivize 5G mid-band deployment.

Wide-band TDD

Our wide-band-optimized Massive MIMO radios significantly expand mid-band capacity with zero added antenna footprint. And they do so while still maintaining a lightweight approach. The industry-leading wide-band AIR 6476 supports 600 MHz instantaneous bandwidth, and enables 400 W of output power from a wright of only 27kg.

The latest generation wide-band, the AIR 3266, is a wide-band TDD Massive MIMO radio with 400W output power in an ultra-slim design at only 17kg of weight.

Multi-band TDD and FDD

Our multi-band Massive MIMO radios for FDD are ideal for congested environments where spectrum is most limited, ensuring improved uplink to reduce the risk of bottlenecks, and alleviating other bands by making it feasible to off-load users to FDD mid-band.

Continuous weight optimization has drastically reduced footprints in this range, so these radios are now even easier to rollout at high-capacity sites.

Ultralight TDD range

AIR 3255

Includes the AIR 3255, the world’s smallest and most sustainable Massive MIMO radio at only 12 kg in weight.

Mid-band TDD radio with 32 transmitters and receivers
Delivers 25% energy savings and 20% lower embodied CO2 footprint
Powered by next generation Ericsson Silicon
Open RAN ready

AIR 3265

Built on the same building practice as the AIR 3255, the AIR 3265 is an ultra-light, ultra-slim radio with higher power (320W) and more antenna elements.

Mid-band TDD radio with 32 transmitters and receivers
Delivers 25% energy savings and 30% lower embodied CO2 footprint
Powered by next generation Ericsson Silicon
Open RAN ready

AIR 3255

AIR 3265

AIR 6419

Wide-band TDD range

AIR 3266

The ultra slim wideband AIR 3266 boosts spectral efficiency and uplink performance, and enables extended capabilities for network sharing and rural deployments.

Mid-band TDD radio with 32 transmitters and receivers
Delivers 30% energy savings and 50% lower embodied CO2 footprint
Powered by next generation Ericsson Silicon
Open RAN ready

AIR 6476

Includes the wide-band AIR 6476, unlocking doubled mid-band capacity with support for both legacy and new spectrum ensuring zero added footprint is required.

Wide-band TDD radio with 64 transmitters and receivers, leveraging latest Massive MIMO architecture with Ericsson Silicon.
Highly energy efficient hardware, supporting the latest energy-saving features and with more than 70% efficient deep sleep.
Open RAN ready

AIR 3266

AIR 6472

AIR 6476

AIR 6494

Multi-band TDD and FDD range

AIR 3284

Includes the AIR 3284, Ericsson’s triple-band FDD Massive MIMO radio with an industry leading highly-optimized weight and design to simplify rollouts in high-capacity sites that need greater uplink capacity to meet network demands.

Triple-band FDD radio with 32 transmitters and receivers
Four times higher uplink and two times higher downlink capacity compared to a 4T/4R alternative.
47 kg weight
Open RAN ready

AIR 3285

A further leading-edge product is the AIR 3285, a dual-band FDD Massive MIMO radio weighing only 31kg, this radio is the lightest in its class, resulting in easier, faster installation.

Dual-band FDD radio with 32 transmitters and receivers
30% energy savings and 40% lower embodied CO2 footprint
Powered by next generation Ericsson Silicon
Open RAN ready

AIR 3229

AIR 3283

AIR 3284

AIR 3285

Intelligent Cell Shaping

Our Massive MIMO Intelligent Cell Shaping software improves coverage with intelligent automation (via rApps), giving more precise cell shapes to match user distribution, reducing inter-cell interference, improving capacity and load balancing with up to 35 percent higher cell edge user throughput.

Deep Sleep

Deep Sleep for Massive MIMO unlocks the ability to hibernate radio components while consumers and businesses are asleep. By harnessing this capability at low traffic hours, around 70% of energy otherwise consumed can be saved.

Booster Carrier Sleep

Allows carriers to switch on and off dynamically based on traffic demand. The Booster Carrier Sleep software creates more opportunities for cell sleep and radio sleep to be activated autonomously – a key enabler for energy efficiency.

Ericsson and Telstra unveil triple-band FDD Massive MIMO radio for next-generation network performance

In yet another pioneering move, Ericsson and Telstra have announced the commercial deployment of the AIR 3284, the world’s first 5G triple-band FDD Massive MIMO radio, delivering a step-change in coverage, capacity, and performance that will serve as a cornerstone of Telstra’s four-year network transformation.

More details

Massive MIMO handbook

Our Massive MIMO handbook contains comprehensive guidance on how to choose the right Massive MIMO solution for typical network deployment scenarios. It also looks in-depth at how Massive MIMO technology works to boost 5G performance, covering architecture, radio requirements and future developments in the sphere.

Read the handbook

White paper: Massive MIMO for 5G networks

This Ericsson white paper details the evolution of Massive MIMO technology. It also explores in-depth the different techniques involved, and outlines a number of typical deployment scenarios plus the benefits in these contexts, from dense urban environments to rural connectivity.

Broad beamforming technology in 5G Massive MIMO

This article explains how Ericsson uses the dual-polarized beamforming technique to control beam shapes and pointing directions for the cell-defining signals to enable their adaptation in a coordinated manner across cells.

Want to know more?

Contact our sales team