Ericsson Radio 8863 B40 (KRC 161 860/1) – High‑Power 8T8R TDD Massive MIMO for Band 40 2300MHz

For operators looking to boost TD‑LTE capacity on the 2300 MHz Band 40 spectrum, the Ericsson Radio 8863 B40, Part Number KRC 161 860/1, stands out as a proven 8T8R remote radio unit (RRU) in Ericsson’s macro radio portfolio. Designed for outdoor macro deployment, this single‑band TDD radio delivers 8×50 W transmit power, enabling robust Massive MIMO gains for dense urban, suburban, and hotspot coverage scenarios.

Band 40 (2300 MHz) is widely adopted for TD‑LTE in many global markets, valued for its balanced coverage reach and spectral capacity. The Radio 8863 B40 is built to pair with Ericsson 6000‑series baseband units (BBUs) over CPRI / eCPRI fronthaul, supporting flexible network scaling for existing LTE and gradual NR evolution on the same band where spectrum permits.

Related Ericsson Radio Products to Consider

When designing a full site or expanding your radio inventory, these matching units are frequently deployed alongside Radio 8863 B40:

1. Ericsson Radio 8863 B41 (KRC 161 857/1): Same 8T8R form factor for Band 41 TDD, ideal if you run both B40 and B41 2.6 GHz TDD layers for capacity stackingAlibaba.co....
2. Ericsson Radio 4415 B7: 4T4R FDD radio for Band 7 (2600 MHz), commonly combined with B40 TDD for layered 4G coverage and load balancing.
3. Ericsson Radio 4418 B41T: Compact TDD radio for supplementary capacity or fill‑in sites where full 8T8R power is not required.
4. Ericsson BBU 6601: The matching baseband processing unit that hosts digital baseband, manages CPRI links, and coordinates MIMO scheduling for the 8863 series radiosAlibaba.

This ecosystem lets integrators build mixed FDD+TDD macro sites without switching vendor families, simplifying spare stock, mounting accessories, and O&M workflows.

Key Product Highlights

• Model: Radio 8863 B40 | PN: KRC 161 860/1
• Frequency: Band 40, 2300 MHz TDD
• Antenna configuration: 8 Transmit / 8 Receive (8T8R)
• Output power: 8 × 50 W
• Cooling: Passive outdoor cooling, suitable for tower and pole mounting
• Power supply: -48 V DC telecom power
• Fronthaul: CPRI / eCPRI optical interface to Ericsson BBUs
• Use cases: Urban capacity boosting, campus hotspots, suburban macro TD‑LTE deployment

FAQ

Q1: What is the main difference between Ericsson Radio 8863 B40 (KRC 161 860/1) and Radio 8863 B41?

A1: The core hardware platform and 8T8R architecture are identical. The difference lies in the supported frequency band: 8863 B40 works on 2300 MHz Band 40, while 8863 B41 covers Band 41 (2600 MHz TDD). Operators deploy them separately or together if they own both spectrum licenses.

Q2: Can Radio 8863 B40 run 5G NR, or is it LTE‑only?

A2: Primarily engineered for TD‑LTE Band 40. NR support depends on software licensing, BBU version, and local spectrum authorization. Always confirm with Ericsson release notes and your BBU software load before planning NR on this RRU.

Q3: Which BBU models are compatible with KRC 161 860/1?

A3: It is designed to work with Ericsson 6000‑series BBUs such as the RBS 6601 platform, via standard CPRI/eCPRI fiber links. Older BBU generations may lack the required fronthaul bandwidth and MIMO processing capacity, so compatibility matrix verification is mandatory before ordering.

Q4: What mounting and environmental conditions does this radio support?

A4: It is an outdoor macro RRU with passive cooling. It supports standard tower rail mounting and near‑antenna installation. It is rated for typical outdoor telecom temperature ranges; avoid sealed enclosures that block natural convection, as this will trigger thermal alarms.

Q5: Is the KRC 161 860/1 available new, refurbished, or used for global supply?

A5: This part is widely traded in the secondary telecom hardware market as tested refurbished / used stock, alongside new OEM allocations. When sourcing, verify firmware status, RF performance test reports, and accessory bundles (mount brackets, power cables, fiber jumpers) to avoid site deployment delays.