As a result of Ericsson’s constant pursuit of new technology to improve the deployment of Radio Access Network (RAN) sites, the company has teamed up with U.S. laser innovator, PowerLight Technologies, to achieve the first safe, fully wireless-powered 5G base station.
The proof-of-concept (PoC) demo milestone was achieved recently in Seattle using optical beaming – a laser-based technology that converts electricity into high-intensity light which is then captured and transformed to electricity at the radio base station.