Ericsson to Deliver RAN and Core Network Solutions for PGE's LTE450 Mission Critical Network

PGE Systemy and PGE Dystrybucja, which are part of PGE Capital Group, responsible for the construction of the LTE450 communication network for the energy sector in Poland, have chosen Ericsson for the delivery of Core, transport, and radio access network (RAN) solutions, as well as network management services and ongoing technical support. The collaboration marks a significant milestone in the development of an independent, dedicated mobile broadband communications network for the modernization of the critical energy infrastructure in Poland.

The LTE450 wireless communication network will cover approximately 40 percent of the landmass of Poland and cater to the communication needs of the energy sector, offering robust broadband capabilities and seamless integration with Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for smart device connectivity.

The advanced network infrastructure will enable PGE to bring greater automation and optimization of energy services. The network will facilitate secure remote reading of over 5 million electricity meters, dispatcher communication services, as well as automatic network control mechanisms. Customers will ultimately benefit from more reliable energy supplies, as well as faster access to services through remote meter reading.

Martin Mellor, Head of Ericsson in Poland says: “Ericsson is proud to be PGE’s Core and RAN partner for this LTE450 mission critical energy network. The solution will enable the comprehensive provision of mobile broadband services for LTE and IoT/M2M devices in accordance with 3GPP standards. The RAN radio network will consist of over 500 base stations.”

Wojciech Dąbrowski, President of the Management Board of PGE, Polska Grupa Energetyczna says: “The PGE Group, through the implementation of the LTE450 Program and the construction of a special communications network dedicated to the energy sector, contributes to increasing energy independence and security, ensuring its proper functioning in strategic areas for Poland. Advanced telecommunications technology will be of key importance in the energy transformation process not only of the PGE Group, but also for future network users including other Distribution System Operators.”

Ericsson will deliver the complete LTE Core Network solution with Virtual Evolved Packet Core and Cloud Unified Data Management deployed on Ericsson NFVI platform, as well as Ericsson Network IQ Statistics from its Network Management portfolio. The core network and network management software will serve as the central element of the LTE450 network, responsible for managing and implementing broadband services, supporting mobility functions, ensuring service quality assurance, as well as creation and authentication of user profiles. Base stations provided by Ericsson to PGE consist of the latest generation of RAN Compute product Baseband 6621, as well as Radio 2212 supporting the 450 MHz frequency band.

PGE Capital Group is one of the largest enterprises in the power sector in Poland, supplying electricity to over five million customers. The signed contract between Ericsson and PGE is long-term and will be valid until August 8, 2033. The supplier of network solutions, after completing the implementation works, will provide technical support services until August 2033, in accordance with the current term of the 450 MHz frequency reservation.