With Evo RAN, Ericsson has developed a mobile network solution that enables operators to minimize the costs of operating a radio access network. Evo RAN combines GSM/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA, LTE, IP-based transport systems and its common Operational Support System in a fully optimized RAN

Ulf Ewaldsson, Vice President and Head of Product Area Radio at Ericsson, says: "Our customers face increasingly complex challenges in terms of operational costs, multiple radio technologies and sustainability concerns. Evo RAN gives operators an opportunity to be flexible in the evolution of their radio access network, taking the risk out of their investment."

Ericsson's RBS 6000 platform, launched last year and now a key component of Evo RAN, enables a common building practice that integrates radio, site power, transport and O&M. This energy-efficient site solution is the smallest multi-standard radio base station on the market, supporting LTE in FDD and TDD mode as well as GSM/EDGE and WCDMA/HSPA in a single package.

As part of Evo RAN, Ericsson is also unveiling the Evo Controller 8000, a controller combining BSC (Base Station Controller) and RNC (Radio Network Controller) in one unit. The unit is fully flexible and adjustable between GSM and WCDMA traffic while offering the highest capacity and the smallest footprint on the market.

"This launch is the realization of a long-held vision to develop a true multi-standard solution and also highlights our commitment to offering customers a seamless, integrated and sustainable solution," Ewaldsson says.

Evo RAN will also be available for existing GSM and WCDMA sites based on Ericsson's RBS 2000/3000 base station series. This underlines Ericsson's strong focus on future-proofing its products, further evidenced by base stations delivered since 2001 being upgradeable to support LTE.

In a special Evo RAN room at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 16-19, Ericsson is demonstrating different configurations of the multi-standard RBS 6000 base station - such as various site solutions with sustainable power solutions - along with the new Evo Controller 8000.