Ericsson and Swisscom have deployed what they claim to be the first 5G data call in Europe using 5G radio dots between two offices.
5G radio dots are devices that allow for 5G network connections in indoor areas such as the home or offices. The technology is seen as an important tool for telecoms and providers as 5G networks are deployed and coverage is lacking, since 5G is in its infancy. As more 5G equipment is brought online and coverage begins to widen, radio dots may not be as useful as download speeds improve. In the meantime, it is a way to achieve indoor 5G experiences by boosting throughput to more than 2 Gbit/sec.
The call using radio dots was made between Ericsson’s office in central Bern, Switzerland, and Swisscom’s office in the nearby town of Liebefeld. Swisscom has deployed its network to 102 locations in 54 towns and plans to achieve 90% nationwide population coverage by the end of 2019.
Small 5G radio dots are easy to install through a small cell system and allow service providers to reuse existing indoor network infrastructure as they upgrade from 4G.
The deployment of 5G radio dots is one of the ways that telecoms and other service providers are looking at using the technology in new and different ways. Other providers are already experimenting with enabling 5G on smart lighting poles, exploring how the technology can be used to improve manufacturing, combining next-generation television with 5G connections and improving emergency response for first responders.
