Huawei's latest repeater offers Korea glimpse into 5G technology

Chinese telecommunication equipment maker Huawei said Friday that it has supplied its latest repeater BladAAU Pro to Switzerland mobile carrier Sunrise UPC.

Huawei said its BladeAAU Pro enables mobile carriers to deploy various network types ranging from 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G on a single pole. While mobile carriers have used a variety of repeaters in different types of networks, Huawei's latest product is integrated, which can dramatically help carriers in terms of cost and space needed to install the equipment in each building.

"Although the 5G rollout continues, Sunrise UPC retains incumbent 2G, 3G, and 4G sites, leaving major challenges in antenna space, wind resistance, and tower bearing. Site adjustment requires a build permit if antenna space differs from the original site lengthwise, and this can take months or even years. A lot of sites have only one antenna with limited space. This means heavy adjustment for new 5G construction. With Huawei's BladeAAU Pro, Sunrise UPC greatly accelerates the deployment of 5G Massive MIMO," Huawei said in a statement.

A Huawei Korea official said Korean telecom companies could also consider using the BladeAAU Pro as mobile carriers can dramatically save equipment infrastructure costs.

"Telecommunications companies are required to install as many repeaters as they can in buildings across the nation to offer smooth network service. They are currently paying for each network service including 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G to the owners of buildings where the equipment is installed. By using Huawei's latest product, they can dramatically save costs and solve problems such as the inability to install network equipment due to small spaces in some buildings," the official said.

The company said its latest equipment enables various bands and radio access technologies to be deployed on the same antennas, drastically simplifying network deployment.

"This high level of integration allows one antenna to provide coverage for multiple network modes, reducing wind resistance and ensuring that 5G modules can be installed at higher positions on existing poles. With its full-band support and huge bandwidth, it helps operators shorten deployment time and is flexible enough to adapt to diverse scenarios. With this blend of powerful features, BladeAAU Pro has become a favorite among operators since its circulation in the global telecom market," the company said.

Alexander Lehrmann, director of new business development and innovation at Sunrise UPC, said the Swiss company will be able to deliver quality 5G service using Huawei's equipment.

"Sunrise UPC's goal is to continue as a front runner in the construction of high-quality 5G networks that can deliver premium experience and lead our business toward success," Lehrmann said.