The RBS 2206—A flexible ticket to third-

generation wireless systems

Per Wilén

The migration from second-generation to third-generation mobile systems

is one of the core issues facing the industry as it enters into the new tele-
coms world. Ericsson is committed to making this migration as seamless
as possible for the operator. One of Ericsson’s cornerstone products is a
new, indoor macro-base station—the RBS 2206.

Twice the capacity, same expanded to support WCDMA using a

plug-in WTRU, which contains baseband
footprint functionality (Figure 3). A remote radio
unit, which can be placed anywhere between
The RBS 2206 is a successor to the the cabinet and the antenna, contains radio
RBS 2202, which is the world’s most de- functionality and power amplification. The
ployed GSM base station. A new double connection between the base station and the
transceiver unit (dTRU) in the RBS 2206 remote unit is made by means of a fiber optic
gives it unsurpassed capacity: with room for cable, making installation flexible and easy.
six dTRUs, it can serve as a 12-transceiver Up to three RRUs can be deployed, de-
base station, which is twice the capacity of pending on the number of sector configura-
the RBS 2202. Nonetheless, the footprint tions (one, two or three).
of the two models is exactly the same, which
is an important point—today, many base
station sites host two RBS 2202 units. If
these units were replaced with the RBS
2206, the extra space gained at the site could
be used for a second unit, say, one that sup-
ports third-generation standards (Figure 2). Figure 1
Photograph of the RBS 2206. Dimensions
Thus, operators can build a third-generation in mm (height x width x depth):
network using existing sites. This is good 1900 x 600 x 400.
news, since site space is a valuable operator
asset.

True bridge from 2G to 3G

When an operator decides to implement
third-generation technology, the RBS 2206
can provide coverage quickly. Indeed, the
RBS 2206 is a true bridge from second- to
third-generation systems. Full support for
enhanced data rates for global evolution
(EDGE) is achieved by adding one or more
plug-in transceiver units in the cabinet’s
transceiver slots; support for wideband
code-division multiple access (WCDMA) is
achieved by adding a plug-in WCDMA
transceiver unit (WTRU) and a remote radio
unit (RRU). The RBS 2206, which repre-
sents a flexible, low-cost ticket to third-
generation capabilities, is especially suited
to sites where space is a premium (urban
areas) or where coverage is the main priori-
ty (rural areas).

Plug-in WTRU and remote radio unit

As mentioned above, the RBS 2206 can be

Ericsson Review No. 2, 2000 93

 RBS 2202 RBS 2202 RBS 2206 WCDMA
RBS 3202

Figure 2
The footprint of the RBS 2206 is one-half
that of the RBS 2202. Thus, by upgrading
to the RBS 2206, operators have space
over for, say, a second unit that supports
third-generation standards.

BOX A, ABBREVIATIONS Generation 2.5 port on all time slots. Moreover, the DXU
In the interim before third-generation sys- is prepared for Internet protocol-based
2G Second-generation mobile/wireless tems are introduced, the RBS 2206 can aptly (IP) A-bis transmission.
system
3G Third-generation mobile/wireless
fulfill several roles, since it provides full sup-
port for the technologies that pave the way
system
CDU-F Combiner and distribution unit (F) for third-generation systems. The RBS 2206
Immediate benefits
CDU-G Combiner and distribution unit (G) is The RBS 2206 also offers several immedi-
dTRU Double transceiver unit • fully prepared for GSM data services, in- ate benefits to present-day GSM networks.
DXU Distribution switch unit
EDGE Enhanced data rates for global evo- cluding 14.4 kbit/s time slots, high-speed Apart from having twice the capacity of its
lution circuit-switched data (HSCSD), and gen- predecessor, the RBS 2206 also gives im-
GPRS General packet radio service eral packet radio service (GPRS); and proved radio performance. For example, in
GSM Global system for mobile communi- • equipped with a powerful distribution addition to standard, two-branch diversity,
cation
HSCSD High-speed circuit-switched data
switch unit (DXU) and fast internal it supports four-branch receiver diversity,
RBS Radio base station buses, which guarantee full EDGE sup- which improves the uplink with up to 4 dB.
RRU Remote radio unit
TRU Transceiver unit
WCDMA Wideband code-division multiple
access
WTRU WCDMA TRU

BOX B, THE RBS 2206

Key features • Supports 12 EDGE transceivers on all time Technical specifications

• Six double transceiver units (dTRU) for a total slots • Frequency band E-GSM 900, GSM 1800
of 12 transceivers • All speech codes: HR, FR, EFR • Transmission (Tx) 925-960, 1805-1880 MHz
• Hybrid combining one, two or three sectors in • Dual-band (GSM 900/GSM 1800) • Reception (Rx) 880-915, 1710-1785 MHz
one cabinet • Extended range 121 km • Dimensions 1900x600x400 mm
• Filter combining one, two or three sectors in • Supports software power boost • Weight (equipped) 230 kg
one cabinet • Prepared for IP-based transmission • Power into
• 35/16 W output power from cabinet (CDU-G) • Prepared for four-branch receiver diversity antenna feeder 35 W (GSM 900)
• 20 W output power from cabinet (CDU-F) • Prepared for GPS-assisted positioning ser- 28 W (GSM 1800)
• Synthesized and baseband frequency hop- vices • Receiver sensitivity -110 dBm
ping • Power supply 120 to 250 VAC, 50/60 Hz
• Prepared for data: 14.4 kbit/s, HSCSD, GPRS -48 to –72 VDC
• Prepared for two-slot WTDUs +20 to +29 VDC

94 Ericsson Review No. 2, 2000

The combination of two unique features—
Extended range 121 km, and four-branch re-
ceiver diversity—gives almost immediate
rural coverage at the lowest possible cost.
The RBS 2206 also comes with two new
combiners—the CDU-F and CDU-G— RRU RRU RRU
which when compared to the combiners of
the RBS 2202, increase output power by
1 dB. Obviously, increased output power WCDMA
implies greater site-to-site distance. Thus, EDGE
compared to the RBS 2202, networks built
with the RBS 2206 require approximately
15% fewer sites (Figure 4). RBS 2206
The CDU-G combiner can be configured
in either capacity or coverage mode. In cov-
erage mode, its output power is increased by
3 dB to 35 W, making it ideal for rural sites
or roll-outs where speed or cost is a key fac- Figure 3
The RBS 2206 can be expanded to sup-
tor. port WCDMA using a plug-in WTRU and
Because it is fully compatible with remote radio unit.
Ericsson’s RBS 2202, the RBS 2206 can
quickly and easily be implemented in pre-
sent-day networks. The RBS 2206 will be- up 50% of the cabinet space currently oc-
come commercially available during the cupied at base station sites. Operators can
first quarter of 2001. EDGE functionality use this extra space to install a third-
will be introduced a few months later. The generation base station; for example, the
plug-in WTRU will be offered for deploy- WCDMA macro-base station/RBS 3202.
ment in 2002. The RBS 2206 is fully prepared for EDGE
and WCDMA. To add WCDMA function-
ality, operators need only plug in a
Conclusion WCDMA transceiver unit and remote radio
The RBS 2206 gives operators flexible entry unit. Thus, because major site investments
into the world of third-generation systems. can be reused, the RBS 2206 gives operators
Having the same footprint as the RBS 2202 rapid, low-cost roll-out of a third-
but double the capacity, the RBS 2206 frees generation network.

Figure 4
The increased site-to-site distance afford-
ed by the CDU-F combiner means that—
+ 15% compared to the RBS 2202—networks
built with the RBS 2206 require approxi-
mately 15% fewer sites.

RBS 2202 RBS 2206

Ericsson Review No. 2, 2000 95