Telecom Lead Europe: Tele2 has selected Ericsson to upgrade its mobile backhaul network throughout Europe.
Tele2 will use Ericsson’s MINI-LINK microwave radio solutions across its European operations
Ericsson will also provide professional support services and training.
According to Ericsson, the telecom equipment major delivered more than 2.8 million microwave systems to more than 600 customers – including operators, governmental bodies and agencies – in more than 160 countries worldwide.
Infonetics Research says the global microwave equipment market reached $1.2 billion in Q2 2012, down 6 percent from the year-ago quarter.
Ericsson regained the #1 position in the microwave equipment market in Q2, edging past Huawei by a hair, according to Infonetics Research. NEC, the microwave market share leader a quarter ago, slipped to third
Robert Puskaric, president of Region Northern Europe and Central Asia at Ericsson, says its MINI-LINK microwave product will provide Tele2 with a future-proof solution that supports both older technologies, such as GSM and 3G, and large volumes of IP data traffic in next-generation LTE networks.
The widespread use of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, has led to a dramatic increase in mobile network traffic.
Recently, Richard Webb, directing analyst for microwave at Infonetics Research, said: “The microwave equipment market rebounded in the 2nd quarter thanks to strong performances from Ericsson and Huawei. Huawei had a huge quarter, its biggest ever for microwave equipment. The operator counts some of the world’s major tier 1 operators as its microwave customers and often supplies their operations across many countries.”
Despite choppy performance in recent quarters, the microwave equipment market will grow to $6 billion by 2016, driven by a continuing demand for increased mobile backhaul capacity and the proliferation of small cells.
