Driving 5G Innovation: Ericsson And Telstra Unveil Triple-Band FDD Massive MIMO Radio For Next-Generation Network Performance

In yet another pioneering move, Ericsson and Telstra have announced the commercial deployment of the AIR 3284, the world’s first 5G triple-band FDD Massive MIMO radio, delivering a step-change in coverage, capacity, and performance that will serve as a cornerstone of Telstra’s four-year network transformation.

In a high-performing programmable network, intelligent management of finite spectrum resources is crucial. Massive MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) – a technology that boosts capacity, improves coverage, and supercharges beamforming – is central to achieving that future. The AIR 3284 unlocks these capabilities in the mid-band Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) spectrum, long considered the sweet spot for balancing broad coverage with high performance and capacity.

Ludvig Landgren, Head of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand, says: “This deployment is a milestone not only for Telstra, but for the telecom industry. The AIR 3284 is the first of its kind and delivers the capacity, coverage, and efficiency needed to support Australia’s 5G evolution. It also lays the foundation for Telstra’s recently announced mobile network transformation that we are helping deliver, focused on building a high-performing, programmable network ready for 5G Advanced and beyond. By integrating Massive MIMO into three critical FDD bands, we’re delivering a future-ready radio that will help Telstra set new benchmarks in speed, experience, and network intelligence. Together, we’re enabling a smarter, more responsive, and more sustainable network experience for Telstra customers.”

Introducing Ericsson AIR 3284 – A world-first breakthrough
The Ericsson AIR 3284 is the first global 5G radio to integrate all three bands into a single unit with full Massive MIMO capabilities, enabling:

• Up to twice the downlink capacity
• Up to three times more uplink capacity – a critical boost for social media, livestreaming, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), extended reality (XR), and enterprise cloud applications
• Smarter beamforming for stronger signal quality and better cell edge performance

Moreover, AIR 3284 plays a crucial role in enhancing Telstra's regional network by alleviating congestion in low-band sites, significantly improving the user experience. By increasing capacity in the midband, it provides additional headroom for Telstra's midband TDD (3.6GHz), which serves as the primary 5G capacity layer. Overall, AIR 3284 brings benefits to all bands within the network, extending its positive impact beyond the specific bands it directly supports.

A game-changer for customers and enterprises
For Telstra’s customers—both metro and regional—this innovation translates into faster speeds, smoother streaming, improved indoor coverage, and a better network experience overall, even in traditionally lower signal zones. Uplink performance, which is increasingly important for user-generated content and immersive technologies, receives a major boost—making real-time applications more reliable and accessible.

For enterprises, this means the infrastructure is ready to support next-generation services—remote operations, smart factories, connected vehicles, and mission-critical IoT—with greater reliability and scalability.

Ash Hunter, Telstra’s Acting Executive of Wireless Engineering says: “This radio delivers a new level of performance across our network. Whether you’re running business-critical applications, gaming on the go, uploading content, or simply making a call, Telstra customers will see and feel the difference. AIR 3284 is a key part of our four-year transformation plan and supports our commitment to continuously improving Australia’s best network—today and into the future.”

Transforming Telstra’s mobile network
Telstra’s recently announced four-year network transformation partnership with Ericsson will usher in a new era of programmable, high-performing, and sustainable networks. The AIR 3284 forms a foundational element of this network evolution.

By leveraging Telstra’s substantial spectrum assets—including 50MHz in Band 7 (2600MHz) and additional spectrum in Band 1 (2100MHz) and Band 3 (1800MHz)—and combining them with Massive MIMO, the AIR 3284 significantly increases network throughput and coverage across both city centres and regional zones. Early deployments are already live in Brisbane suburbs and will expand soon to Melbourne, with ongoing field trials confirming performance and energy gains.

Why the Ericsson AIR 3284 matters:

• Unique globally: The only commercial 5G radio in the world to combine 1800/2100/2600 MHz bands with Massive MIMO
• Network transformation in action: A pillar of Telstra’s strategy to deliver 5G Advanced and smarter, programmable networks
• Smarter beam control: Real-time steering of signals to where it is needed most, improving the customer experience and reducing interference
• Spectrum synergy: Efficient use of Telstra’s existing spectrum portfolio to deliver faster, more reliable service across the country

Ericsson and Telstra pioneer the first programmable network in Asia-Pacific (https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/2025/2/ericsson-and-telstra-pioneer-the-first-programmable-network-in-asia-pacific)

Ericsson Massive MIMO radios (https://www.ericsson.com/en/ran/massive-mimo)

5G Radio FDD - Network boost with Massive MIMO - Ericsson (https://www.ericsson.com/en/ran/5g-radio-fdd)

About Ericsson:
Ericsson’s high-performing networks provide connectivity for billions of people every day. For nearly 150 years, we’ve been pioneers in creating technology for communication. We offer mobile communication and connectivity solutions for service providers and enterprises. Together with our customers and partners, we make the digital world of tomorrow a reality. For more information, visit www.ericsson.com