Ericsson successfully tests the Zero Site connected streetlight in Santander

The company has installed the first Zero Site in Spain in the Cantabrian capital, an urban solution that combines advanced ICT features with state-of-the-art LED lighting and offers macro coverage for 4G technology in 2.600 Mhz.

In the year 2050 The main market analysts predict that the 70% of the world's population living in cities. The Zero Site connected streetlight developed by Ericsson responds to two of the biggest challenges facing cities in this sense: the growth of the urban population at a rate of 7.500 people per hour, which creates a significant demand for basic services (mobile broadband, application coverage and public lighting), as telecommunications and electricity providers face the growing challenge of securing sites in densely populated areas.

By integrating the microcell (small cell) In the Zero Site streetlight, massive broadband deployment is possible by accessing a large volume of sites assigned to lighting, which will allow operators to offer optimal urban coverage with minimal visual impact.

Regarding the test carried out with Zero Site in the Cantabrian capital, your mayor, Íñigo de la Serna, has highlighted the commitment that technology companies are making to test their product and service developments in a city that has already become a true urban laboratory.

“Santander – he has pointed out- is witnessing and protagonist of important advances in the field of technological innovation, especially in the Internet of Things, which is contributing to its advancement as a smart city”.

For José Antonio López, CEO of Ericsson Spain, “Zero Site should be classified as a very practical contribution of zero visual impact and environmental improvement.”, and it comes when our cities are entering a new phase of technological and social development, driven by the emergence of cloud-based services, more powerful mobile devices, sensors, “Big Data and data analysis”.

In this sense, The Ericsson Spain manager highlights that “smart networks will be fundamental for the functioning of smart cities and for the development of the ecosystem to promote new digital businesses around our connected society.”.

According to the data provided by Jose Antonio López, “In the world there are a hundred times more streetlights than telecommunications sites.”. Street lighting is everywhere, but at the same time a good percentage needs updating. “Zero Site offers cities an innovative way to modernize lighting and provide the best mobile broadband access to their citizens.”.

Zero Site space can be rented to multiple mobile operators and supports connectivity from 2G to 4G and license-free technologies, like WiFi. Includes all components necessary to densify existing cellular transmission networks (optics or microwave), baseband and radio components, feeding, wiring and cooling.

The Zero Site streetlight tested in Santander, pioneer city in intelligent communications services for citizens, within the facilities of the Atlantic Park of Las Llamas, in the El Sardinero area, telecommunications equipment, radio sets and antennas are installed on the top of the pole, while the equipment integrated by the multiple band units, the battery, refrigeration, remote site controller etc.. They are located in an underground chamber. In this case, 4G connectivity is provided in 2.600 Mhz.