Featured articles from Ericsson Microwave Outlook reports

Backhaul capacity evolution

Increasing mid- and high-band deployments will continue to drive backhaul needs.

Spectrum, a shared gem

Opportunities for the coexistence of other radio services in parts of the 6–15 GHz range is the latest hot topic in backhaul spectrum.

Trusted microwave networks

Today, mobile networks are one of the most vital parts of a nation’s infrastructure and demands for trust, security and resilience are steadily increasing.

The future of microwave planning

Networks are getting denser and, at the same time, higher capacity and longer hop lengths are continuously pursued. Modernized microwave planning and more efficient spectrum use will be significant in achieving this.

Backhaul media for 5G and beyond

By 2030, when 6G deployment is expected to start, Ericsson forecasts that 50 percent of macro sites will be connected and backhauled through microwave solutions.

E-band fits the bill

With the roll-out of 5G, E-band has become a commonplace mobile backhaul around the world. What is the current situation and what does the future look like?

Opportunities with antenna innovations

Gone are the days when the choice of antenna was limited to what frequency band and which reflector size to use. Driven by advancements in microwave technology, the antenna toolbox has expanded to provide diverse options and possibilities.

Reducing OPEX with AI

AI-based network automation can reduce operational expenses in many different areas of microwave networks. An interesting example is the Spanish service provider Lineox, which has reduced site visits by 40 percent by using automatic scripts.

When long haul makes a difference

Mobile communications have made easy access to news, social media, high-speed mobile communications, online shopping and banking an integral part of modern life that most of us take for granted.

Spectrum in a dynamic market

Microwave spectrum is a key 5G transport asset. In recent years, we have seen shifts in frequency use, introduction of 5G NR in traditional microwave bands, and development of E-band into a high-volume band. What trends do we see now and for the coming years?

How to reduce power consumption in microwave networks

Energy efficiency in mobile networks is key to reducing operational costs and reaching net zero sustainability goals.

Maximizing capacity in spectrum-limited networks

Can higher frequency reuse provide a viable solution to meet increasing demand for more capacity in microwave networks with limited spectrum?

The rural challenge for 5G backhaul

At distances of 20-60 km, it becomes a challenge to reach 5-10 Gbps using just 1-2 wide channels. Learn about the challenges for 5G backhaul in rural areas.

Wind impact on E-band

Ericsson has monitored 500 E-band links over a year for impact by wind, read about the result.

Telefónica Germany’s perspective on using E-band for 5G

Telefónica Germany finds it apparent that E-band is excellent for handling speedy roll-outs of 5G in urban and suburban areas.

Supporting network slicing in microwave networks

Network slicing is gaining momentum as an enabler for new 5G services and market.

Microwave: perfect for fixed wireless access backhaul

By the end of 2026, FWA connections are forecasted to reach around 25 percent of the global total mobile network data traffic. Microwave is a key enabler for a profitable FWA service.

Frequency reuse and wide channels – a perfect match

How can service providers with limited access to microwave backhaul spectrum handle the increased data traffic demands?

The importance of differentiated availability

Simulations show that availability can be relaxed in capacity-demanding services like video without negative impact on user quality of experience. A properly dimensioned backhaul can have much lower availability for the higher capacities, while maintaining high availability for lower rates.

Lessons learned from long-haul use around the globe

Over the last decade, traffic has moved from TDM to packet. Significant capacity gains could be made with a more modern network plan.

Resolving scattered spectrum

Increasingly wider channels have been released to satisfy capacity demand. With gradual development, spectrum usage can become scattered, potentially hindering capacity growth. So, what is the current situation and what measures can be taken?

Spectrum update

The future use of 6GHz is the new hot topic in backhaul spectrum.

Lessons learned from a decade with E-band

E-band is increasing in importance with the arrival of 5G and its demand for high capacity. During the recent years of commercial deployment, a number of insights have been gained that will facilitate the future use of E-band.

Demystifying MIMO for microwave

MIMO is an attractive solution for increasing spectral efficiency when spectrum is a scarce resource. It is instrumental for future implementations of 100Gbps over microwave. However, there are many things to consider in order to reach the optimal MIMO installation.

Breaking the 100 Gbps barrier

The 100Gbps wireless transport barrier is broken by combining E-band radios with MIMO technology. Through this, 139Gbps over 1.5km was achieved, with high availability and low latency in a 2.5GHz channel.

Integrated Access and Backhaul in 5G NR

5G New Radio (NR) will bring a new backhaul option known as Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB), of high interest for the deployment of dense millimeter wave (mmWave), street-level radio nodes.

How machine intelligence is helping to manage networks

Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from systems mimicking human behavior to systems leveraging human expertise.

Tools and techniques are finding their way into all parts of society, with applications even helping to manage microwave networks.