Predictika · Ericsson RAN site substitution

A substituted RAN site configuration, checked before it goes back to the operator

When a baseband or radio is constrained or repriced, an engineer, a partner or an AI quoting agent proposes a substitute for the configuration of an Ericsson Radio System site. Before the revised quote goes back to the operator, the proposal goes to the Predictika validator. It checks that the substituted radio keeps the band class and the Massive MIMO capability the site was designed for, that the substituted baseband supports NR, the cells and the radio ports the site needs, that the radio is within the structure weight limit, and that the stated price change is right, and it flags a lower output power, a later delivery than the contract promises and a price increase above the operator's tolerance. Every reason comes back in one answer. Hard rules block; commercial and coverage questions route to a person. The baseband and radio capabilities are estimates from Ericsson's public product information and the prices are illustrative; the delivery weeks, the promised delivery, the structure limit and the price tolerance are supplied by the operator's and the supplier's own systems. Ericsson is not involved with it and has not endorsed it.

Scope: substitutions of basebands and radios in Ericsson Radio System site configurations: Baseband 5216, 6630, 6648 and 6651, and six radios. See everything this validator covers

This validator checks one kind of proposal: a substituted baseband and radio for a site configuration that was already designed, as happens when a part is constrained or repriced. It handles any substitution among the basebands and radios in the catalog, not only the scenarios on this page. It checks whether the substituted site is still valid before the revised quote is sent. It does not plan radio coverage, simulate capacity, or generate a configuration.

  • Covered: radio capability — a substitute radio must cover every band class (low, mid, C-band) the original covered and keep Massive MIMO if the original had it; a lower output power goes to approval.
  • Covered: baseband capability — NR support when the site needs it, the number of cells the baseband supports, the radio ports for all sectors, and a Massive MIMO radio only on a Baseband 6648 or 6651.
  • Covered: structure — the weight of the substitute radio against the structure limit supplied for the site.
  • Covered: commercial — the site price before and after, the price change the proposal states against the computed one, a price increase above the operator's tolerance, and a delivery later than the contract promises.
  • Supplied by the operator and supplier, not by the validator — the number of sectors and cells, whether NR is required, the delivery weeks of the substitute, the delivery the contract promises, the structure limit and the price tolerance.
  • Not covered — coverage and capacity simulation, antenna and feeder choices, licenses and software features, and any rule the operator has not written into its policy. Other rules can be added.
  • Estimates — the baseband and radio capabilities follow Ericsson's public product information at the level of this model and are not Ericsson data sheets; prices are illustrative.
The AI quoting agentProposes the substituted site configuration and says it is ready to go back to the operator.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

8 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI quoting agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI quoting agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Whether a substitute keeps the band class and Massive MIMO of the originalOnly with care
Each radio covers some bands and may or may not be Massive MIMO. A substitution rule can be written per radio pair, but every new radio multiplies the pairs, and a missed pair means a site that loses its C-band Massive MIMO.		Each radio carries its band classes and Massive MIMO capability; the substitute is compared with the original, so a 4T4R radio replacing a Massive MIMO radio is caught without a rule for that pair.
Baseband limits that depend on the radio and the site togetherOnly with workarounds
Whether a baseband works depends on NR support, the cells the site serves, the radio ports all sectors need and whether the radio is Massive MIMO, so a rule per baseband and per radio and per site size.		The cells, the ports (sectors times ports per radio), NR and Massive MIMO support are computed from the site on every call, and each shortfall is reported with the numbers.
A substitution that changes the price, and the price change the quote statesOnly with workarounds
Quote tools price the new configuration but do not compare it with the original or with the change the quote states, so a quote that says no price change passes.		The original and the substituted site price are computed and compared with the stated change; a price increase above the operator's tolerance goes to approval.
Hard rules versus commercial approvalsOnly with care
Approval chains handle one threshold well, but here some findings block, and others (a lower output power, a delivery later than promised, a price increase) only need a person.		Each finding is labeled block or approval, so a person is asked only about the things only a person can accept.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the design; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed. The wording shown is an example from the test runs; the numbers change with the proposal.

    
1Baseband does not support NR (blocks): NR is required at this site but the substitute baseband Baseband 5216 does not support NR.
2Massive MIMO capacity lost (blocks): The original radio AIR 3268 is Massive MIMO but the substitute Radio 8843 is not; the site would lose its Massive MIMO capacity.
3Massive MIMO radio needs a newer baseband (blocks): The substitute radio AIR 6449 is Massive MIMO, which needs a Baseband 6648 or 6651; the substitute baseband is a Baseband 6630.
4More cells than the baseband supports (blocks): The site serves 18 cells but the substitute Baseband 5216 supports 12.
5Not enough baseband radio ports (blocks): 9 sectors with 1 radio port(s) each need 9 baseband radio ports, but the substitute Baseband 5216 has 6.
6Radio changes the band class (blocks): Substitute radio Radio 8863 is mid band, but the original Radio 4499 is low band; a substitute must keep the band class the site was designed for.
7Radio is over the structure weight limit (blocks): The substitute radio AIR 6449 weighs 45 kg; the structure limit for this site is 35 kg per radio.
8Stated price change does not match (blocks): Stated price change does not match: the agent stated 0 EUR; the validator computes -57000 EUR.
9Later delivery than the contract promises (needs approval): The substitute delivers in 18 weeks against 14 weeks promised in the contract; a person must approve the later delivery.
10Lower output power than the original (needs approval): The substitute radio Radio 8843 has 160 W output power against 200 W for the original AIR 3268; confirm the coverage with the operator.
11Price increase above the tolerance (needs approval): The substitution raises the site price by 20000 EUR, above the 5000 EUR tolerance; the customer must re-approve the price.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Capability, capacity and price: Massive MIMO site re-quoted with a Baseband 5216 and a 4T4R radio

    
The agent's request. Please check the substituted configuration for site north-411 of Nordlys Mobil: 3 sectors and 18 cells, NR required. The baseband changes from Baseband 6651 to Baseband 5216 and the 3 radios from AIR 3268 to Radio 8843. The substitute delivers in 12 weeks against 14 promised, the structure takes 35 kg per radio, and the quote shows no price change. It is ready to go back to the operator.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Massive MIMO capacity lost. The original radio AIR 3268 is Massive MIMO but the substitute Radio 8843 is not; the site would lose its Massive MIMO capacity.
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  • Baseband does not support NR. NR is required at this site but the substitute baseband Baseband 5216 does not support NR.
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  • More cells than the baseband supports. The site serves 18 cells but the substitute Baseband 5216 supports 12.
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  • Stated price change does not match. Stated price change does not match: the agent stated 0 EUR; the validator computes -57000 EUR.
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  • Lower output power than the original. The substitute radio Radio 8843 has 160 W output power against 200 W for the original AIR 3268; confirm the coverage with the operator.
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2. Capability, capacity and price: Baseband 6630 with AIR 6449: too heavy and cannot carry Massive MIMO

    
The agent's request. Please check the substituted configuration for site north-411 of Nordlys Mobil: 3 sectors and 18 cells, NR required. The baseband changes from Baseband 6651 to Baseband 6630 and the 3 radios from AIR 3268 to AIR 6449. The substitute delivers in 12 weeks against 14 promised, the structure takes 35 kg per radio, and the quote shows a price change of 20,000 EUR. It is ready to go back to the operator.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Massive MIMO radio needs a newer baseband. The substitute radio AIR 6449 is Massive MIMO, which needs a Baseband 6648 or 6651; the substitute baseband is a Baseband 6630.
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  • Radio is over the structure weight limit. The substitute radio AIR 6449 weighs 45 kg; the structure limit for this site is 35 kg per radio.
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  • Price increase above the tolerance. The substitution raises the site price by 20000 EUR, above the 5000 EUR tolerance; the customer must re-approve the price.
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3. Capability, capacity and price: Baseband 6648 with the same AIR 3268

    
The agent's request. Please check the substituted configuration for site north-411 of Nordlys Mobil: 3 sectors and 18 cells, NR required. The baseband changes from Baseband 6651 to Baseband 6648 and the 3 radios from AIR 3268 to AIR 3268. The substitute delivers in 12 weeks against 14 promised, the structure takes 35 kg per radio, and the quote shows a price change of -6,000 EUR. It is ready to go back to the operator.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
4. Band class and delivery: Low-band radio replaced by a mid-band radio

    
The agent's request. Please check the substituted configuration for site fjord-207 of Fjordnet Wireless: 3 sectors and 9 cells, NR required. The baseband changes from Baseband 6630 to Baseband 6630 and the 3 radios from Radio 4499 to Radio 8863. The substitute delivers in 12 weeks against 14 promised, the structure takes 35 kg per radio, and the quote shows a price change of 3,000 EUR. It is ready to go back to the operator.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Radio changes the band class. Substitute radio Radio 8863 is mid band, but the original Radio 4499 is low band; a substitute must keep the band class the site was designed for.
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5. Band class and delivery: Low-band radio replaced by another low-band radio

    
The agent's request. Please check the substituted configuration for site fjord-207 of Fjordnet Wireless: 3 sectors and 9 cells, NR required. The baseband changes from Baseband 6630 to Baseband 6630 and the 3 radios from Radio 4499 to Radio 4480. The substitute delivers in 12 weeks against 14 promised, the structure takes 35 kg per radio, and the quote shows a price change of 1,500 EUR. It is ready to go back to the operator.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
6. Band class and delivery: Lower output power and delivery later than promised

    
The agent's request. Please check the substituted configuration for site fjord-208 of Fjordnet Wireless: 3 sectors and 9 cells, NR required. The baseband changes from Baseband 6630 to Baseband 6630 and the 3 radios from Radio 4480 to Radio 4499. The substitute delivers in 18 weeks against 14 promised, the structure takes 35 kg per radio, and the quote shows a price change of -1,500 EUR. It is ready to go back to the operator.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Lower output power than the original. The substitute radio Radio 4499 has 240 W output power against 320 W for the original Radio 4480; confirm the coverage with the operator.
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  • Later delivery than the contract promises. The substitute delivers in 18 weeks against 14 weeks promised in the contract; a person must approve the later delivery.
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7. Baseband capacity: 30 cells moved to a Baseband 6630

    
The agent's request. Please check the substituted configuration for site skerry-032 of Skerry Telecom: 3 sectors and 30 cells, NR required. The baseband changes from Baseband 6651 to Baseband 6630 and the 3 radios from Radio 8843 to Radio 8843. The substitute delivers in 12 weeks against 14 promised, the structure takes 35 kg per radio, and the quote shows a price change of -10,000 EUR. It is ready to go back to the operator.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • More cells than the baseband supports. The site serves 30 cells but the substitute Baseband 6630 supports 24.
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8. Baseband capacity: Moved to a Baseband 6648 instead

    
The agent's request. Please check the substituted configuration for site skerry-032 of Skerry Telecom: 3 sectors and 30 cells, NR required. The baseband changes from Baseband 6651 to Baseband 6648 and the 3 radios from Radio 8843 to Radio 8843. The substitute delivers in 12 weeks against 14 promised, the structure takes 35 kg per radio, and the quote shows a price change of -6,000 EUR. It is ready to go back to the operator.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

  

  

    
Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. When a baseband or radio is constrained or repriced, an engineer, a partner or an AI quoting agent proposes a substitute for the configuration of an Ericsson Radio System site. Before the revised quote goes back to the operator, the proposal goes to the Predictika validator. It checks that the substituted radio keeps the band class and the Massive MIMO capability the site was designed for, that the substituted baseband supports NR, the cells and the radio ports the site needs, that the radio is within the structure weight limit, and that the stated price change is right, and it flags a lower output power, a later delivery than the contract promises and a price increase above the operator's tolerance. Every reason comes back in one answer. Hard rules block; commercial and coverage questions route to a person. The baseband and radio capabilities are estimates from Ericsson's public product information and the prices are illustrative; the delivery weeks, the promised delivery, the structure limit and the price tolerance are supplied by the operator's and the supplier's own systems. Ericsson is not involved with it and has not endorsed it.
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  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
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  3. The agent says. Please check the substituted configuration for site north-411 of Nordlys Mobil: 3 sectors and 18 cells, NR required. The baseband changes from Baseband 6651 to Baseband 5216 and the 3 radios from AIR 3268 to Radio 8843. The rest of the request is on screen.
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  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with four findings and one approval, all in one answer. The original radio AIR 3268 is Massive MIMO but the substitute Radio 8843 is not; the site would lose its Massive MIMO capacity. NR is required at this site but the substitute baseband Baseband 5216 does not support NR. The site serves 18 cells but the substitute Baseband 5216 supports 12. The other one is on screen.
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  6. The validator returned four blocking findings and one approval in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the substitution are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for whether a substitute keeps the band class and Massive MIMO of the original, a rules-based application is error-prone for this.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the substitute baseband to Baseband 6630, the substitute radio to AIR 6449 and the stated price change to 20,000 EUR.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. Still blocked, with two findings and one approval, all in one answer. The substitute radio AIR 6449 is Massive MIMO, which needs a Baseband 6648 or 6651; the substitute baseband is a Baseband 6630. The substitute radio AIR 6449 weighs 45 kg; the structure limit for this site is 35 kg per radio.
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  12. Five findings cleared, but the change brings a different blocking finding: Massive MIMO radio needs a newer baseband and radio is over the structure weight limit.
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  13. The agent resubmits once more.
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  14. The revised request. It changes the substitute baseband to Baseband 6648, the substitute radio to AIR 3268 and the stated price change to -6,000 EUR.
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  15. It calls the validator once more.
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  16. This time the validator clears it.
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  17. The validator also returns the line-item quote. It starts with Baseband 6648 replacing Baseband 6651 and AIR 3268 radios replacing AIR 3268; the other line is on screen.
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  18. All three earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's total, -6,000 EUR, matches the substitution.
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  19. Five problems caught in one call, fixed in two passes, and a clean substitution. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before it goes back to the operator. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    20.