By Martin Weidemann, Owner at Weidemann.tech
When we swapped out legacy 4-meter antennas in a dense urban deployment for the Ericsson Antenna KRY 121119, we didn’t just save installation time—we also slashed our project’s embodied CO₂ by 40% and saw uplink throughput shoot up by over 100%. It’s rare for one hardware component to shift the game this much. But this one did.
That’s when I knew the KRY 121119 wasn’t just another passive antenna—it was a cornerstone for sustainable, fast, and intelligent 5G network transformation. And if you’re responsible for deploying telecom infrastructure in 2025, this is the story—and product—you need to know.
What is the Ericsson Antenna KRY 121119?
The KRY 121119 is part of Ericsson’s 2025 Passive Antenna portfolio—specifically engineered to address multi-band 5G and 4G deployments across 698–2690 MHz. Its standout feature is the lightweight, honeycomb radome, a structural innovation that delivers a triple win: reduced material usage, reduced wind load, and dramatically lower embodied carbon.
Designed to support 4T4R and 4T8R configurations, it’s the kind of antenna that simplifies deployments in urban environments while also supporting RET (Remote Electrical Tilt) and Antenna Monitoring Unit (AMU) integration for precision beam tuning.
When and Where Was It Launched?
Ericsson included the KRY 121119 in its 2025 Antenna System catalog, with its global debut timed around MWC Barcelona and additional operator pilots launching in North America, Europe, and Latin America during Q2 2025.
Our own deployment came as part of a digital infrastructure upgrade for a fintech client in LATAM—where site density, ESG reporting, and deployment speed were all non-negotiables.
What Makes It So Special? (The WOW Numbers)
Here’s what pushed this antenna into “no-brainer” territory for us and many global operators:
- 37% lighter than conventional antennas in its class
- 20% less wind load, reducing the need for structural reinforcements
- 42% reduction in embodied CO₂, thanks to innovative honeycomb materials
- Support for 698–2690 MHz, covering both low and mid bands in one unit
- Uplink performance boost of up to 110%, thanks to low-PIM design and efficient dipole configuration
- RET secured via digital monitoring, enhancing real-time optimization and network integrity
Who Is It For?
If you’re a mobile network operator (MNO), neutral host, or building private LTE/5G networks, the KRY 121119 was built with you in mind.
It’s especially ideal for:
- Operators seeking rapid urban deployment without overhauling tower structures
- Networks under ESG pressure, needing to reduce scope 3 emissions
- Critical infrastructure rollouts (transport, utilities, smart cities) where performance and reliability can’t be compromised
- Companies looking to future-proof infrastructure for upcoming 6G standards without ripping and replacing
My Own Use Case: The Weidemann.Tech Pilot in Latin America
When a client in fintech asked us to accelerate their 5G coverage buildout across three high-density metro zones in LATAM, we knew we needed an antenna that could offer more than just performance.
They wanted:
- Reduced tower engineering costs
- A faster rollout timeline
- Quantifiable ESG metrics to include in their annual sustainability report
I proposed a shift to the KRY 121119. We deployed it at three test sites and tracked the results over 90 days.
The Results?
- Installation time dropped by 30%, since crews could handle lighter gear and reduce crane time
- Embodied CO₂ savings reached 40% per site, thanks to the radome redesign and efficient shipping
- Uplink throughput increased by 50–110%, confirming Ericsson’s internal benchmarks
- Time-to-ROI decreased from 24 months to 18, driven by lower OPEX and faster subscriber activation
This wasn’t just a hardware upgrade—it was an integrated, quantifiable step forward in digital transformation.
