Ericsson unveils solutions to reduce ownership cost for telcos

New Delhi: Telecom gear maker Ericsson has rolled out a new suite of solutions that reduces costs for operators by up to 40 per cent, bringing down the investment required for deploying mobile broadband networks.

The Broadband Commission estimates that it would cost USD 450 billion to bring the next 1.5 billion people online across the world. "These are among the most important additions to our product portfolio for mobile broadband coverage growth ever.

Ericsson supports the ITU's Connect 2020 target of ensuring that more than 50 per cent of people in the developing world are using the internet by 2020," Ericsson Head of Business Unit Network Products Arun Bansal said in a statement.

He added that to reach the said goal, the industry will need to connect about 500,000 new users to internet each day. In India, Ericsson works with telecom operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, Idea Cellular and Reliance Communications.

"Ericsson continues innovating so that operators can create viable business even in rural or off-grid settings, and to make the most difference with every investment," he said.

The Swedish company said the suite launched includes enhanced software, products and site solutions that cut total cost of ownership by up to 40 per cent for mobile broadband builds, making investments in low-ARPU (average revenue per user) markets viable.

These solutions offer up to 20X improved user experience by upgrading the GSM networks and ensures sustainable growth using Ericsson tools, it added.