After a successful laboratory test, Australian telecom company Optus is gearing up to roll out Ericsson’s multi-operator 5G Radio Dot System nationwide. Once implemented, this system will bring robust 5G connectivity to indoor spaces, empowering businesses to streamline their operations.
Optus intends to deploy the Radio Dot System in indoor locations such as sports arenas, multi-story buildings, and shopping complexes. Additionally, it will serve as a 5G capacity enhancement in areas where Optus has already employed older technologies, like food courts in shopping centers, airport lounges, or corporate suites in stadiums. This expansion is particularly aimed at facilitating emerging technologies like extended reality (XR) and virtual reality (VR).
Daniel Ode, Ericsson’s Head of Global Customer Unit, Singtel, expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We are pleased to be supporting Optus to deliver this innovative solution to its customers.” He emphasized that the 5G coverage on the 3.5GHz spectrum would be crucial for indoor locations such as venues and stadiums, addressing the challenges of delivering top-notch coverage in such environments.
The multi-operator functionality of the 5G Radio Dot System enables multiple operators to collaborate and share the total cost of ownership (TCO), catering to the increasing demand from both enterprises and consumers for 5G coverage and capacity indoors.
Beyond connectivity improvements, Ericsson’s system will also enable precise indoor positioning of people or objects in settings like multi-story buildings, airports, and underground locations. This is especially valuable in areas where traditional GPS and satellite technologies lacked accuracy.
Kent Wu, Optus Vice President Access Network Strategy, Planning, and Quality, commented on the development, saying, “This successful test and upcoming deployment of Radio Dot highlights Optus’ commitment to delivering the highest quality and innovative technologies.” He explained that with Ericsson’s multi-operator 5G Radio Dot system, Optus aims to support its customers in multiple venues, providing a high-capacity 5G solution for both uplink and downlink. This enhancement is expected to elevate the 5G customer experience in indoor locations, facilitating new use cases like XR/VR and precise positioning.
In 2024, Optus aims to start introducing the multi-operator Ericsson Radio Dot System to its network in New South Wales.
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