Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and MetroPCS Communications Inc. are leading the next wave of mobile broadband and content-rich applications with today’s launch of MetroPCS’ Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. Ericsson is the primary supplier of infrastructure for MetroPCS and its 4G LTE networks.
“Ericsson’s global experience and vision surrounding 4G LTE were significant reasons for selecting them as one of our key infrastructure partners. Our companies have worked closely to rapidly build and launch a high-quality 4G LTE network in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area,” said Roger D. Linquist, president, CEO and chairman of the board of MetroPCS. “As we continue to roll out 4G LTE networks in our remaining metropolitan areas in the remainder of 2010 and early 2011, we plan to leverage Ericsson’s technology leadership to bring our customers an exciting mobile broadband experience.”
Today’s launch will provide MetroPCS subscribers in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area with faster, more efficient transfers of data, video, images and more, in an efficient and cost-effective way. It will support MetroPCS’ world-class cost structure while offering innovative mobile broadband services. As part of the network build, Ericsson created a custom rapid rollout solution for MetroPCS that allows for substantial reuse of existing infrastructure.
“Ericsson is proud to work with such a forward thinking company as MetroPCS as we bring our global leadership of LTE into North America,” said Angel Ruiz, president of Ericsson North America. “With LTE, MetroPCS will be able to meet the rapidly growing demands of its customers for new and enhanced applications as we continue to evolve and expand the possibilities of mobile broadband.”
Ericsson’s continued wireless technology leadership comes from the company’s long and active involvement with standards bodies and its industry-leading contributions to the released LTE specifications. Ericsson expects to hold 25 percent of all essential patents for LTE, making it the largest patent holder in the industry. Ericsson launched the world’s first LTE networks in Norway and Sweden in late 2009 and early 2010.
Ericsson’s full end-to-end LTE solution for MetroPCS includes:
RBS 6000 Base Station
Unveiled at Mobile World Congress in 2008, Ericsson’s RBS 6000 base station provides MetroPCS with flexibility and upgradeability. Along with LTE, the software-upgradeable base station supports Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), GSM and GPRS/EDGE.
IP-RAN
Ericsson’s IP-RAN solution will make it possible for MetroPCS to be the world’s first operator to run both CDMA and LTE over a common connection. This future-proof and sustainable mobile network solution will be the most efficient and comprehensive on the market. It simplifies network management and lowers operating costs by allowing MetroPCS to leverage its CDMA and LTE assets and reduces power consumption.
Evolved Packet Core
Designed to optimize the mobile broadband experience, Ericsson’s Evolved Packet Core solution for MetroPCS includes the Serving GPRS Support Node – Mobility Management Entity (SGSN-MME) and the Converged Packet Gateway (CPG) products. The SGSN-MME is an evolution of Ericsson’s SGSN product, upgradeable by software-only means, and providing pooled and triple-access operation. The CPG provides high-quality broadband services for mobile and fixed traffic in the packet core network, and permits consolidated mobile gateway and aggregation router capabilities in a compact platform.
Network Services
Additionally, Ericsson has provided MetroPCS with LTE network design, optimization, engineering, implementation, integration and customer support services for the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.
