MINI-LINK

6000
Enabling 5G transport
everywhere
2 Ericsson  |  MINI-LINK 6000 – enabling 5G transport everywhere

MINI-LINK 6000 enabling

5G transport everywhere

5G requires 5G transport booster, and MIMO in the MINI-LINK 6000 Increased need of high-capacity interfaces
portfolio will support the rapidly increasing The densification of radio sites as well as new
The transport infrastructure of your network capacity demand. Ericsson is committed to radio interfaces drive the need for higher port
is key in securing the best 5G performance for helping our customer prepare for all scenarios, density and higher capacity in microwave
all those 200+ foreseen use cases which are and with our portfolio of 5G-ready transport nodes to handle the new connections. The
enabled by 5G. solutions you can build for the future in today’s increased radio capacity in 5G along with
The radio evolution, introducing new networks. the coordination functions will require high-
interfaces and deployment architectures, capacity interfaces. MINI-LINK 6000 offers
drives the need for increased capacity and New spectrum and new radio functionality multiple 10GE interfaces in one node.
connectivity, lower latency, and support drives backhaul capacity everywhere
for increased traffic volume in 5G transport New NR spectrum, better utilization of the Low latency required in 5G networks
networks. Time and phase synchronization available spectrum, and introduction of co- Low latency is critical for coordination
are crucial for high-performing radio traffic ordination services such as dual connectivity functions over the new radio interfaces in both
and support of TDD radio networks, while and carrier aggregation increase the non-stand-alone and stand-alone 5G
capabilities such as security, advanced QoS, bandwidth and coverage leading to a higher deployments as well as for certain 5G use
traffic engineering and VPNs are key demand for capacity in the transport network. cases, such as critical IoT.
technologies to achieve network slicing. We see a strong continued need for Microwave has a very low latency, lower
Programmability, SDN capabilities and microwave deployments; by 2025, around than fiber, making MINI-LINK 6000 a perfect
machine learning enable a high degree of 62% of all radio sites globally, excluding North fit for 5G transport.
automation in the whole network and reduce East Asia, will be connected by microwave1.
the overall complexity and thereby The MINI-LINK 6000 portfolio is available for Sync support in transport is key
operational expenses. ubiquitous 5G transport with E-band and with for TDD networks
Microwave solutions offer high capacity, traditional frequencies in both shorthaul and Synchronization support in mobile backhaul
low-latency, and cost-efficient transport long haul. MINI-LINK 6000 provides 10Gbps is crucial for enabling TDD-based 5G
and are an excellent 5G transport solution 5G transport in urban, suburban, and rural radio networks and to guarantee radio
together with fiber deployments. High applications. performance. MINI-LINK 6000 can distribute
modulation, carrier aggregation, multi-band

1 Ericsson Microwave Outlook 2020

Ericsson  |  MINI-LINK 6000 – enabling 5G transport everywhere 3

frequency, phase, and time sync efficiently

as part of the overall sync solutions for
enhanced radio coordination and 5G use Key benefits with means that we can have up to 45%
cases. longer hops compared to other vendors.
MINI-LINK 6000 Alternatively, smaller antennas with
Network slicing and automated Superior system gain enables longer maintained capacity can be used to
operations hops, higher capacities, and smaller reduce tower rental costs or to use the
The demand for guaranteeing service quality antennas saved space to set up additional links.
to all the various traffic types will increase. MINI-LINK has a market-leading
The shift from dominant mobile broadband system gain, up to 8 dB higher Superior power efficiency
to multiple services supported by network compared to other vendors. The higher enables considerable cost reductions
slicing drives the need to system gain makes it possible to use MINI-LINK has the best power
manage different QoS requirements and to higher modulations thus enabling efficiency in the microwave market
do this dynamically. Intelligent, automated increased capacity with the same today (40% lower power consumption
coordination between RAN, transport, link availability and antenna size. than the industry average). Such power
and mobile core networks is central to any The additional capacity can be used efficiency translates into considerable
robust, sustainable 5G solution. to mitigate network bottlenecks, cost reductions to our customers and a
MINI-LINK 6000 offers hierarchical QoS handle additional subscribers in the air substantially reduced OPEX. Additional
mechanisms and open SDN interfaces interface, or add new RBS sites without power savings can be achieved with
supporting both network slicing and a higher affecting the existing microwave link. Traffic Aware Power Save.
degree of automation. The superior system gain can also be
used for longer hops. In E-band, this

Utilized in 5G networks Extensive portfolio Ease of deployment

for all needs – fast time to market
4 Ericsson  |  MINI-LINK 6000 – enabling 5G transport everywhere

MINI-LINK 6000

MINI-LINK 6000 enabling ubiquitous 5G transport

With unmatched flexibility, MINI-LINK providers’ needs. The portfolio offers both functionality including advanced sync and
6000 provides the right solution for each split mount and all outdoor shorthaul as well L3 VPN, using IP/MPLS, as well as L2.
part of the network, all deployment as long haul solutions covering the complete All network scenarios are supported with
scenarios and site types, enabling sound microwave spectrum from 4 up to 80 GHz. superior performance combined with the
investments in line with the service MINI-LINK 6000 offers advanced packet lowest possible cost of ownership.

Split mount shorthaul

With best-in-class radio link units, split The MINI-LINK 6600 family provides the schemes, 8k QAM, XPIC, carrier aggregation,
mount shorthaul provides high capacity in highest node capacity in the smallest form MIMO, Multi-band booster, wide channels
all frequencies with superior system gain factor with fixed and semi- like 224 MHz, low latency, and multiple 10G
and power efficiency. modular nodes. MINI-LINK 6600 supports interfaces ensures deployment flexibility
multiple radio links with a capacity of up and future-readiness. In addition, MINI-
to 2.5Gbps per link. Using high modulation LINK 6600 also supports TDM traffic.

MINI-LINK 6363 MINI-LINK 6364 MINI-LINK 6365

The world’s smallest high power – The world’s smallest sub-band The world’s smallest high-power
radio unit free high power radio with radio with carrier aggregation
– 6-80 GHz carrier aggregation – 6-42 GHz
– 8k QAM – 13, 15 and 18 GHz – 8k QAM
– 8k QAM – Carrier aggregation
– Carrier aggregation

MINI-LINK 6651/4 MINI-LINK 6651 MINI-LINK 6654 MINI-LINK 6655

Compact 10Gbps multi-band Compact end-node Small aggregation node Medium aggregation node
booster node – 1 or 2 carriers – Up to 6 radio links and – 10 radio links in 8 directions
– 2 carriers – 14.5Gbps switch capacity 6 directions – 44Gbps switch capacity
– Up to 44Gbps switch capacity – 1GE and 2.5GE interfaces – 44Gbps switch capacity – 1GE and 10GE interfaces
– 1GE and 10GE interfaces – 1GE and 10GE interfaces

MINI-LINK 6693
MINI-LINK 6691 Medium aggregation node MINI-LINK 6694 MINI-LINK 6692
Small aggregation node – Up to 8 radio links in 7 directions Medium aggregation node Large aggregation node
– Up to 4 radio links in 4 directions – Up to 90Gbps switch capacity – Up to 8 radio links in 8 directions – Up to 16 radio links in 15 directions
– Up to 90Gbps switch capacity – 1GE and 10GE interfaces – 90Gbps switch capacity – 90Gbps switch capacity
– 1GE and 10GE interfaces – 1GE and 10GE interfaces – 1GE and 10GE interfaces
– NPU Protection – NPU Protection
Ericsson  |  MINI-LINK 6000 – enabling 5G transport everywhere 5

All outdoor shorthaul

MINI-LINK all outdoor products offer Gbps capacities using traditional frequencies
(6–42 GHz), and up to 10Gbps capacities with E-band 70/80 GHz.
As the name indicates, they provide a compact all-outdoor solution for sites where indoor
space is limited.

MINI-LINK 6366 MINI-LINK 6371 MINI-LINK 6352

Flexible outdoor solution for integrated or All outdoor solution for 5G capacities High capacity E-band radio
separate mount – 2.5Gbps over 2 carriers, – 10Gbps capacity
– 2.5 Gbps over 2 carriers – prepared for 5Gbps over 4 carriers – XPIC support
– 6-80 GHz – 10Gbps with Multi-band booster – Equipment Protection
– 9.5Gbps switch capacity, – 6-80GHz – Multi-band booster support
– 1GE and 2.5GE interfaces – 8k QAM – Wireless fronthaul for eCPRI connections
– XPIC and Multi-band booster – 35Gbps switch capacity,
– Multiple mounting solutions: integrated, – 1GE and 10GE interfaces
separate and rail. – XPIC, Carrier Aggregation and Multi-band
booster, prepared for MIMO
– Multiple mounting solutions: integrated,
separate and rail

Long haul
Ericsson provides the first long haul Sucessfull deployment of links over more contains large rack-mounted units for
system on the market designed for 5G than 150 km/90 miles with 2-4 Gbps. high capacities, compact and super
transport. The product family provides Support is provided for L2 and L3, five compact units, as well as split mount
market-leading capacities, up to 10Gbps 10GE interfaces, low latency, as well as implementations.
over 35 km/22 miles with 4096QAM. phase and time sync. The product family

MINI-LINK 6291 MINI-LINK 6251 MINI-LINK 6252 MINI-LINK 6262

Split implementation Super compact Compact Rack mounted
– 2–16 channels – 2–4 channels – 2–12 channels – 2–16 channels
– 90Gbps switch capacity – Up to 90Gbps switch – 90Gbps switch capacity – 90Gbps switch capacity
– Up to 10Gbps link capacity capacity – Up to 7.5Gbps link capacity – Up to 10Gbps link capacity
– Up to 2Gbps link capacity

Additional product Advanced Microwave Insights

A wide range of antennas and accessories are available to support Advanced Microwave Insights uses AI and machine learning to save
our different microwave solutions. The antennas size from 0.1m/5in operator’s time on analysis of MINI-LINK transmission issues and
up to 3.7m/12ft and support different frequencies from 4 GHz up reduces unnecessary site visits. It improves the customer experi-
to 80 GHz. Dual-band antennas are available facilitating fast and ence and network performance at a reduced cost.
cost-efficient rollout of multi-band booster deployments over one
antenna, while reducing tower rental costs.
6 Ericsson  |  MINI-LINK 6000 – enabling 5G transport everywhere

Evolve your network to support 5G

1. Boost transport in
dense urban areas
1
Use E-band to boost Microwave
capacity for macro or street macros

Use E-band as wireless Fronthaul

for eCPRI as a complement to fiber
2
in C-RAN deployments.

3
4

2. Boost suburban 3. Evolve rural coverage 4. Build for coverage

backhaul capacities and capacity and redundancy

Boost capacity with 224 MHz Use microwave for cost-efficient Extend rural coverage with long
channels and multi-carrier solutions coverage for 4G and 5G haul solutions and use long haul for
redundancy to fiber
E-band or Multi-band to FWA if fiber Increase microwave capacity with
is not available Multi-band to boost 4G performance

MINI-LINK 6000 supports network Line-of-sight MIMO dramatically increases supported by a single radio. This makes it
evolution and expansion in a cost-efficient the efficiency in utilizing the available possible to use the full capacity of adjacent
way. Flexibility is key when addressing spectrum. and non-adjacent channels with one radio.
backhaul challenges. Site-specific Multi-band booster is a flexible way of This can be very useful when the spectrum
requirements, such as time-to-market catering for the 5G transport requirements. It is scattered and it is hard to get licenses for
considerations and the quality of available combines the best characteristics of wide channels. The use of a single radio for
backhaul assets, will determine the best different frequency bands to boost two channels will reduce the tower footprint
solution. capacities, unleashing the use of higher and the power consumption. It also allows for
frequencies over longer distances and much a scalable expansion of the network.
Supporting capacity evolution wider geographical areas. Multi-band booster
As the evolution towards 5G continues, we uses a low-band radio to provide a high- Flexible and modular solutions for any
can also see that microwave technology is availability connection and combines it with deployment scenario
keeping pace with needs. The increased use a higher band that provides a significant The flexibility that can be achieved in the
of the E-band and wider channels such as increase in capacity, but with a slightly network thanks to software upgrades along
224 MHz in traditional microwave bands lower availability. Priority traffic handling with node and hop compatibility makes it
shows that the microwave transport is applied. Ericsson’s unique hierarchical possible to invest when and where
technology meets the current and future Radio Link Bonding (hRLB) enables very necessary. This prevents the over-
capacity needs of radio sites. efficient traffic handling in 10Gbps Multi- dimensioning of the network, which would
In addition, MINI-LINK has best-in-class band booster solutions. These solutions will translate into excessive costs.
spectrum efficiency while making the most be essential in supporting future performance The larger MINI-LINK nodes use plugin
out of the available spectrum. MINI-LINK needs and will further increase the use of units, which make it easy to customize
provides up to 8k QAM adding up to 12% higher frequencies. configurations and make future upgrades. By
more capacity compared to 4k QAM and 22% Carrier aggregation is used to increase reusing existing MINI-LINK equipment, filling
more capacity compared to 2k QAM. capacity and coverage. With carrier up empty slots, and just adding a new modem
aggregation, two separate channels can be and radio, the savings can be up to 40%.
Ericsson  |  MINI-LINK 6000 – enabling 5G transport everywhere 7

Network Manager provides a single

Advanced packet handling
interface for management and visibility of
MINI-LINK 6000 has integrated Ethernet
Switching functionality and supports L3
the entire mobile network. MINI-LINK
VPN using IP/MPLS, thus reducing the cost Implementing SDN-based management – the market leader
and complexity by not needing external that uses open and standard interfaces
equipment. Hierarchical QoS enables the provides a framework for policy-driven The market leader in
sharing of networks between several automation and end-to-end orchestration, microwave transmission
operators with multiple technologies as well for radio and transport, and for efficient MINI-LINK is the market leader in
as network slicing. roll-out of 5G services with network microwave transmission, with 880
slicing. With this framework, the Ericsson customers in 180 countries. MINI-LINK
Orchestrator provides both transport and is in use in all the world's climate zones.
Industry-leading cloud capabilities. It also offers end-to-end Ericsson has delivered over
performance with L2 and L3 transport services provisioning of 4.5 million microwave radio units since
the different transport slices. the late 1970's.
Ericsson Radio System The cloud orchestration part provides
Network Functions Virtualization Mobile broadband over long
Our portfolio of transport solutions is part Orchestration (NFVO) capabilities and distances with 2.3Gbps over 128 km
of the Ericsson Radio System, ensuring a generic Virtual Network Function A microwave hop of 2.3Gbps over
smooth evolution path with complete site Management (VNFM). This enables the life 128 kilometers is today successfully
solutions, shared air flow designs and cycle management of virtualized network enabling Mobile Broadband on the
maintenance features that ultimately functions and both intra- and inter- distant Batanes islands in the northern
reduce OPEX. Ericsson Radio System is data-center connectivity. Philippines.
designed to fit all site types and traffic The Service Orchestrator provides the
scenarios, even as networks grow in scale glue between the transport and the cloud E-band microwave produces fiber-
and complexity, from 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, domains. As parser and orchestrator of like results with 100Gbps over 1.5 km
delivering industry-leading performance on service templates, it can decompose and Ericsson Reserach, together with
the smallest site footprint with the lowest translate each request into provisioning Deutsche Telecom, has demonstrated
energy consumption. queries for the transport and the cloud fiber-like results for microwave in the
orchestration components. E-band with achieving more than
100Gbps over a 1.5-kilometer hop.
Ericsson Network
Manager and Ericsson
Dynamic Orchestration
With Ericsson Network Manager (ENM),
all network technologies can be handled in
a single management platform. Ericsson

Multi-band booster

Results in 10x capacity

Very wide frequency or 3x distance High availability
band 70/80 GHz
Lower availability

Multi-band

Wide frequency
bands 18-42 GHz

Narrow frequency
bands 6-15 GHz

Dense urban Remote rural

8 Ericsson  |  MINI-LINK 6000 – enabling 5G transport everywhere

Ericsson enables communications service providers to

capture the full value of connectivity. The company’s
portfolio spans Networks, Digital Services, Managed
Services, and Emerging Business and is designed to
help our customers go digital, increase efficiency, and
find new revenue streams. Ericsson’s investments in
innovation have delivered the benefits of telephony and
mobile broadband to billions of people around the world.
The Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on
Nasdaq New York.

ericsson.com/mobile-transport The content of this document is subject EN/LZT 30/28701-FGB 101 004
to revision without notice due to con- © Ericsson AB 2021
tinued progress in methodology, design
and manufacturing. Ericsson shall have
no liability for any error or damage of
any kind resulting from the use of this
document