Network infrastructure firm Cellnex has tapped Ericsson for tower infrastructure upgrades in Poland.

This agreement includes an upgrade of radios, RAN compute modules, microwave links, antennas, and enclosures across Cellnex sites in Poland.

These upgrades, which are equipped with Ericsson silicon, are designed to support improved energy performance, a lower physical footprint, and reduced tower load compared with earlier generations, in line with Cellnex's sustainability goals.

Cellnex's infrastructure in Poland supports mobile carrier Plus, which will be using Ericsson's 5G RAN kit. Plus is the brand name of Poland's mobile phone network operator Polkomtel.

According to Ericsson, this gear supports programmable networks that can be configured on demand to offer different levels of service for different customers’ needs.

"The growing demand for mobile data transfer requires not only the modernization of active equipment. It also needs an increase in quantity to densify the service while, at the same time, improving energy efficiency, equipment optimization, network resiliency and environmental effects," said Leszek Lis, director for operations and member of the management board of Cellnex Poland.

"Ericsson's devices and technology will allow us to achieve these goals. By introducing the latest generation of equipment, we are modernizing the network that will enable Plus to offer even more advanced, reliable and secure services in the era of 5G and other coming technologies."

As part of the agreement, Cellnex will deploy Ericsson's microwave E-band radio MINI-LINK 6356 to deliver high-capacity backhaul with improved power efficiency.

The vendor will also provide its Transport Automation Controller for the microwave backhaul, which Ericsson notes will bring "AI-driven automation and smarter network management."

On top of this, Ericsson's AIR 3229 dual-band TDD Massive MIMO radio makes its Polish debut, combining C band and 2600 TDD in a single unit to reduce tower footprint and speed up its 5G rollout.

Martin Mellor, head of Ericsson Poland, said: “This Radio Access Network modernization and expansion utilizes the very latest technology with Ericsson Silicon and will provide high-performance 5G networks throughout Poland. The network has multiple use cases, building on services for consumers and enterprises and with capabilities for mission-critical applications.”

Ericsson currently has approximately 2,000 R&D engineers in Kraków and Łódź, with production for Europe made in Tczew, Poland, with its partner Flex.

Cellnex completed the takeover of its Polish unit in 2023 when the company acquired the remaining 30 percent stake in telco infrastructure company OnTower Poland that it did not own from Iliad Group. OnTower was set up in 2021 as part of Cellnex’s acquisition of around 7,000 sites from Polish mobile operator Play. Iliad acquired Play in 2020.