10 October 2022

Ericsson has announced that Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) will be the first operator in Asia to deploy a new breed of radio equipment which, it claims, cuts operating costs by delivering better energy efficiency.

The Air 3268 for mid-band 5G networks is reportedly the lightest and smallest Massive MIMO radio in the industry. Weighing in at 12kg, each unit is 40% lighter than the earlier generation, and 18% more efficient. The equipment utilises the Ericsson Silicon system-on-a-chip set-up to deliver real-time channel estimation and precise beamforming, which will improve coverage as well as the user experience.

This latest news comes after DNB and Ericsson successfully demonstrated a 5G Voice over New Radio (VoNR) call for the first time over a live 5G network, back in June. VoNR uses DNB’s 5G network architecture to deliver a high-definition, audio-video experience thanks to ultrafast 5G speeds throughout the duration of the calls. VoNR is also expected to generate new revenue opportunities among MNOs with ready 5G Cores.

“5G VoNR calls are a basic capability needed for future Standalone New Radio (SA NR) 5G deployments and will allow innovative services to be offered in the market,” said David Hägerbro, head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh. “This is another milestone as we work with DNB to deliver a world class network for Malaysians to enjoy.”