KDDI Turns to Ericsson for LTE Upgrade

Japanese network operator KDDI has selected Ericsson as a primary vendor to deploy its LTE system and Evolved Packet Core network. More specifically, Ericsson will provide an LTE radio access network based on its RBS 6000 base station in addition to the Evolved Packet Core, making the radio access network based on LTE FDD. Aside from its network solutions, Ericsson will also provide KDDI with related services, namely network rollout and system integration.

This partnership marks the first time that Ericsson and KDDI have collaborated to implement a radio access network. This is not, however, Ericsson’s first time deploying such a network in Japan.

In April 2012, the telecommunications technology and services provider was contracted by Softbank Mobile to build an LTE radio access network that would serve Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. This agreement saw Ericsson help expand and perform systems integration of the carrier’s existing packet core network to Evolved Packet Core. In this instance, the RBS 6000 multi-standard base station was also deployed.

The RBS 6000 is a no-compromise, yet energy efficient, compact site solution that supports GSM/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA and LTE in a single package.

Currently, Ericsson has a hand in serving about half of the world’s LTE smartphone traffic, with more than 180 LTE RAN and Evolved Packet Core networks delivered worldwide. The company is present in all high-traffic LTE markets today, including the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Australia and Canada.

“Ericsson has been collaborating closely with KDDI to demonstrate the value of our globally recognized LTE solution,” said Jan Signell, head of Region North East Asia at Ericsson, in a statement. “We firmly believe that KDDI's subscribers will benefit from the superior user experience and time to market of new technology that our global LTE solution provides. We are proud that KDDI is entrusting us to deliver these values.”