Tech News
Ericsson unveils new wave of radio, antenna, and RAN Connect products to advance high-performing programmable networks
As telecoms industry engagement with high-performing programmable networks ramps up globally, Ericsson is meeting related future needs through a significant product portfolio boost.
Ahead of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, the company is introducing innovative new radios, antennas, and open fronthaul solutions called RAN Connect designed to empower communications service providers (CSPs).
With its enhanced portfolio, Ericsson is set to offer 130 radio products supporting open and programmable networks during 2025, outpacing the competition. These products will make up more than two thirds of the company’s deliveries this year, providing CSPs with the programmability and future-proof network evolution necessary to stay ahead in the industry.
Programmability leverages Ericsson’s many-core architecture and extensive sleep modes within Ericsson Silicon to implement intents such as energy savings without compromising customer experience.
The portfolio enhancements are led by the flagship product, AIR 3266, a wide-band TDD (Time Division Duplexing) Massive MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) radio with 400W output power in an ultra-slim design.
AIR 3266 boosts spectral efficiency and uplink performance, while reducing energy consumption by up to 30 percent and embodied carbon footprint by up to 50 percent. It is powered by the latest Ericsson Silicon and features 32-branch transceivers.
Ericsson is also introducing RAN Connect, a set of transformative, open fronthaul solutions that maximize scalability and efficiency. They allow CSPs to aggregate radio traffic, unlocking the full potential of modern RAN Compute capabilities, and reinforces Ericsson’s leadership in next-generation RAN evolution.
Key products include RAN Connect 6381, an all-outdoor solution supporting 600Gbps capacity with high scalability and efficiency; RAN Connect 6682, a high capacity fronthaul solution with up to 1.2 terabits per second (Tbps) throughput, ideal for large-scale deployments; and RAN Connect 6681, a versatile 600Gbps indoor option optimized for a wide range of interface configurations.
Mårten Lerner, Head of Product Area Networks at Ericsson, says: “With 5G expected to carry 80 percent of total mobile data traffic by the end of 2030, we see an industry need for 5G equipment that strikes the perfect balance between superior performance, best-in-class TCO, and unmatched sustainability. The ultra-light radios simplify deployment, and the interleaved antennas optimize site usage by integrating multiple M-MIMO frequency bands.
“With cutting-edge hardware designs, we are reducing costs and maximizing efficiency for our customers as they evolve their architectures to deliver high-performing programmable networks that cover all connectivity needs,” Lerner adds. “Sustainability is also central to every solution, leveraging energy-efficient designs, recyclable materials, and passive cooling to meet Net Zero targets. These advancements embody the artistry of network evolution.”
Next-generation radios
The portfolio is further enhanced with more radios, including:
- AIR 3285: a dual-band FDD Massive MIMO radio that offers up to four times higher uplink capacity than traditional 4 transceiver solutions. Field measurement also shows that FDD M-MIMO supports offloading of TDD mid-band and FDD low-band, enhancing overall network performance. Weighing only 30kg, this radio is the lightest in its class, resulting in easier and less time-consuming installation. It reduces energy consumption by 30 percent and has a 40 percent smaller embodied carbon footprint.
- AIR 6494 and AIR 3265: AIR 6494 is a next-gen wideband TDD Massive MIMO radio with 64-branch wideband transceivers and 480W output power. It cuts energy use by up to 30 percent. The next-gen AIR 3265 is an ultra-light, ultra-slim 32-branch radio that offers high EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power), 25 percent energy savings, and 30 percent reduced embodied carbon. Both radios are powered by Ericsson Silicon.
- Radio 4451HP and Radio 4491: Advanced FDD radios that set new standards for performance, efficiency, and sustainability. Radio 4451HP is compact and wideband, reducing size, weight, and energy use by 20 percent, and cutting embodied carbon by 25 percent compared to its predecessor. Radio 4491 delivers 720W output power in a lightweight 30kg design, using 20 percent less energy and 40 percent less embodied carbon.
Ericsson is also introducing the following next-generation innovations:
- Indoor Fusion Unit 8828: Enables gigabit speeds indoor 5G in one compact hardware solution for small and medium-size enterprises. The enhanced 8828 supports multiple operators, and offers double the coverage, extending up to 8,000 square meters (80,000 square feet), and can connect up to eight Radio Dots.
- Interleaved Antenna 8001 and 8002: Combines low-band FDD with Massive MIMO TDD and FDD in a single antenna footprint for easy installation and reduced site rental costs, with upgradable interleaved passive antenna technology, full transparency, and modularity.
- New Antenna System portfolio: Precisely engineered antennas to empower high-performing, energy-efficient networks. The new antennas enable superior coverage, 15 percent higher uplink throughput, and up to 29 percent reduced radio output power. The flagship Antenna 4818 achieves superior energy efficiency with electrical and beam efficiencies of up to 85 percent, combined with exceptional passive intermodulation (PIM) performance, enabling optimized FDD mid-band utilization, improved carrier aggregation, higher modulation and MIMO scheme use. It supports simplified and sustainable deployment thanks to best-in-class wind load, 37 percent lighter weight and 42 percent reduced embodied carbon footprint.
- Power D620: This programmable Smart DC (Direct Current) distribution system enables efficient remote management of DC power, significantly minimizing the need for on-site interventions. Its dynamic energy slicing capability prioritizes critical services, ensuring extended uptime during critical network events. Also, the zero-watt sleep feature eliminates energy usage during radio sleep intervals, optimizing overall RAN energy efficiency.
Tech News
FVC and SearchInform Join Forces to Boost Insider Threat Prevention and Data Protection in MENA
FVC, a prominent distributor specialising in innovative technology solutions, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with SearchInform, a leader in information security and insider threat prevention solutions. Together, they are committed to strengthening organizations’ defenses against data leaks, corporate fraud, human-factor related risks.
K.S. Parag, Managing Director, FVC:
“We are excited to welcome SearchInform to our cybersecurity portfolio. The company offers the most powerful and localized DLP on the MENA market. SearchInform solution stands out from the competition due to a number of advantages. The system can be deployed within a few hours, protects the maximum number of data transfer channels, provides smart content-based blocking for all controlled channels and also use digital watermarks to trace the source of potential leaks. SearchInform DLP supports analysis of data in Arabic and has security policies, tailored for requirements of local organizations, enabling timely detection and prevention of confidential data leaks. The solution leverages AI to monitor atypical data transfer channels, recognize graphic elements, transcribe audio into text, detect attempts to photograph PC screens with smartphones.”
SearchInform offers a range of products, including DCAP, DLP, and SIEM. All the tools are seamlessly integrated. Technical support is provided through a specialist assigned to the company, who has extensive experience thanks to clients from various fields.
Commenting on the Partnership, Artem Volodin, CEO SearchInform MENA, stated:
“We are proud to collaborate with FVC, whose expertise in the Middle Eastern market will strengthen our efforts to combat insider threats and data leaks. The region needs a comprehensive solution that will enable organizations to meet regulatory standards, including SAMA, PDPL, DCC, ECC, UAE Information Assurance (IA) Regulation etc. and global ones, such as GDPR, PCI DSS. SearchInform delivers tools for data protection and risk mitigation across all levels: FileAuditor secures file systems, DLP covers workstations and human risks, Risk Monitor addresses corporate fraud, and SIEM protects IT infrastructure.”
The partners are currently conducting expert training, partner enablement sessions, and are also negotiating the implementation of SearchInform products in local companies.
Tech News
Etihad Salam and AFR-IX telecom Join Forces to Boost Intercontinental Digital Links Across Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Etihad Salam, a premier telecommunications and digital infrastructure company in Saudi Arabia, has entered into a strategic with AFR-IX telecom, an infrastructure and telecom operator and the developer and operator of the Medusa Submarine Cable System.
This collaboration aims to elevate digital connectivity spanning Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and Asia. Through this agreement, Etihad Salam becomes the primary landing and interconnection hub for the Medusa system within Saudi Arabia through Aqaba (Jordan), solidifying the Kingdom’s position as a pivotal digital gateway connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.
The partnership introduces resilient, high-bandwidth, and low-latency pathways from the Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula, fostering expansion for hyperscale data centers, cloud service providers, and digital operators throughout the region.
With this partnership, Etihad Salam will deliver terrestrial backhaul services and capacity swapping to seamlessly incorporate Medusa’s network into Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC, and onward to Asia. This initiative represents a significant advancement in Etihad Salam’s global cable strategies and underscores its dedication to Saudi Vision 2030’s goals for digital innovation and economic diversification.
Medusa Submarine Cable System is an 8,760 km undersea cable network linking critical points in the Mediterranean, such as Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Engineered for high-speed, reliable data transfer between Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, Medusa delivers up to 480 Tbps of capacity, serving as a vital conduit for surging intercontinental data flows.
Quote from Salam
“Our partnership with Medusa underscores Salam’s commitment to positioning Saudi Arabia as a central hub for regional connectivity,” stated Amjad Arab, Chief Wholesale and Alliances Officer at Etihad Salam. “By linking the Medusa cable to our robust infrastructure, we’re creating innovative international routes that expand our worldwide presence and meet the surging needs for digital and cloud services in the Kingdom. Through this partnership, we seek to offer enriched connectivity services, experiences and bring the world closer, ultimately empowering businesses to scale and innovative in an increasingly digital landscape.”
Quote from AFR-IX telecom
“We’re excited to collaborate with Etihad Salam, whose expertise and network complement our objective of providing secure, expansive, and high-performance connectivity from the Mediterranean outward,” said Norman Albi, Chief Executive Officer of AFR-IX. “This partnership elevates reliability and coverage for carriers worldwide, driving forward digital advancement across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.”
Tech News
Infinia Technologies and Satya Retail Launch AI and Blockchain-Powered Retail Transformation at GITEX 2025
- Revolutionizes India’s retail market by empowering merchants with first time real use case of AI and Blockchain
- SAII is a world’s first initiative set to turn millions of low-tech, high-potential neighbourhood retailers into a data-rich, AI-enabled commerce network
Infinia Technologies, a subsidiary of Sirius International Holding, announced a strategic partnership with Satya Retail, a DS Group affiliate, at GITEX Global 2025, the world’s largest technology and innovation event in Dubai. Through this collaboration, Infinia Technologies aims to leverage its advanced AI operating ecosystem to power Satya Retail’s merchant network with AI-driven analytics, blockchain-based invoicing, and digital financial tools, transforming India’s retail landscape.
By combining Infinia Technologies’ AI and blockchain infrastructure with DS Group’s unmatched distribution expertise and Satya Retail’s deep merchant network, this initiative will create an intelligent, scalable, and inclusive retail ecosystem designed to empower millions of small businesses across the country. The official signing took place today at GITEX Global 2025, in the presence of Arif Khan, CEO of Infinia Technologies, along with Ritesh Kumar, Director at DS Group.
The collaboration marks the launch of SAII – Smart AI Integrator, a world’s first initiative that turns millions of low-tech, high-potential neighbourhood retailers into a data-rich, AI-enabled commerce network. Branded as “The Digital Saathi for Merchants,” SAII provides a single platform for all merchant needs; from blockchain-based e-invoicing and micro-financing to insurance, hyperlocal advertising with two-way data transfer for merchants and vendor network.
For the first time, India’s retailers will receive access to powerful digital capabilities at scale through SAII. It will help merchants operate smarter, improve efficiency, and build deeper partnerships across the supply chain.
Commenting on the announcement, Arif Khan, CEO of Infinia Technologies, said: “This partnership represents a defining moment in how AI and Blockchain can drive real-world impact. This collaboration will positively accelerate India’s digital economy. Through SAII, we’re enabling millions of India’s retailers to access intelligent tools and digital services that were once out of reach, while advancing our mission to take advanced AI from Abu Dhabi to the world. This is only the beginning; we plan to extend the SAII model across Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, with more projects to be announced soon.”

Ritesh Kumar, Director at DS Group added: “Our collaboration with Infinia Technologies brings together the strength of our retail network and their AI innovation to empower small businesses across India. SAII will help local merchants modernize their operations, access financial and digital tools seamlessly, and become part of a larger connected commerce ecosystem. This is a major step toward building a more inclusive and technology-driven retail economy.”
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