Looking Back, Leaping Forward

By Jeremy Ladner 12 min read

“Delivering Connectivity Everywhere” – it’s more than just Ceragon’s tagline; it’s the ‘what’ we do and ‘why’ we do it. It’s our guiding principle powered by teams of people working in tandem across Ceragon’s corporate offices in countries and continents around the globe, from the R&D folks dreaming up the next wireless connectivity innovation to the tower climbers precariously perched in some remote region. All are working in harmonious collaboration to develop and deliver the wonderful wireless communication solutions our customers count on.

With 2024 behind us and 2025 fresh and full of possibilities, we thought it would be a great opportunity to reflect on a year marked by groundbreaking innovation. This past year, Ceragon tackled some of the most pressing connectivity challenges faced by service providers and private network operators.

Here’s a selection of Ceragon’s major 2024 product releases and success stories, along with a ‘spoiler-free’ peek at what lies ahead in 2025.

‘Talkin SmAK’ with the New Smart Activation Key

 

Activating new network elements is often a complex, time-consuming challenge. The whole process is a massive drain on already strained resources, not to mention an unnecessary delay in your Time to Revenue (TTR).

In 2024, Ceragon eliminated all of that wasted time and complexity and replaced it with the seamless simplicity of a single centralized Smart Activation Key. Beyond the obvious upfront cost savings gained from not needing to pay for pre-loaded activation and the time savings that come with faster delivery and deployment, there are massive operational benefits from the flexibility a single Smart Activation Key can deliver.

Chances are you’re all too familiar with this scenario – a new feature becomes available for some of your transport network elements. the benefits of the new feature are significant but the time and resources required to regenerate and reinstall hundreds or thousands of new activation keys is a nightmare that, frankly, you’d rather avoid.

Now, unlocking new features is effortless and instant. Just go into your Ceragon Smart Activation Application that lives on your server in your Network Operations Center (NOC) and activate what YOU need when YOU need it. But Ceragon’s Smart Activation Key goes WAY beyond simplifying access to new features. Its flexibility really begins at the beginning, right from the pre-purchase planning stage.

Traditionally, every network element you purchase is locked to its own unique activation key, requiring you to decide in advance what features will be activated for each device. If you purchase multicore devices, you’re usually forced to decide the number of radios you want to activate upfront.

Think you might need Adaptive Coding and Modulation activated? You’d have to decide BEFORE you buy. The same goes for Multi-Carrier Adaptive Bandwidth Control and Cross Polarization Interference Cancelation. Ceragon’s Smart Activation Key changes ALL of that. Now, there’s no need to commit in advance, the smart key gives you total freedom and flexibility. Now, you can grow as you go with a network that can quickly and easily adapt to new challenges.

Ceragon’s Smart Activation Key Also comes with intelligent metering and monitoring equipping you with accurate usage reports and the actionable intelligence you need to decide if you want to activate additional radios, increase available capacity, or enable new features to increase your network performance and efficiency.

Intelligent metering and monitoring have the added benefit of flexible payment options, giving you the ability to move from an upfront flat rate CAPEX model to a Pay Per Use OPEX model – You choose based on whatever works best for your network.

Once again, Ceragon innovation leads the way with a first-of-its-kind Smart Activation Key.

IP-50CX | The Perfect Balance of Power & Performance




Not too big, not too small, with just the right mix of power and performance – If Goldilocks had a favorite all-outdoor multicore microwave radio, it would be Ceragon’s new IP-50CX. Way back in 2012 Ceragon introduced the hugely popular IP-20C. It was a revolutionary radio at launch thanks to its dual core scalable capacity, compact size, and incredible cost efficiency. But years passed, capacity demands grew, and network needs evolved. Ceragon met those needs when it launched the IP-20C’s successor, the IP-50C.

The IP-50C is a powerhouse delivering incredible new capabilities, allowing you to base your entire network, from small cells to massive aggregation sites, on this single radio. For applications that require a full 8 Gbps capacity, the IP-50C delivers, with an easy to install 4+0 all outdoor configuration that utilizes advanced layer-1 carrier aggregation.

But what if your network doesn’t need ALL the power and features of the IP-50C? What if… your network needs a more compact connectivity solution that still delivers huge capacity but does it in more of a ‘mini’ footprint? Well, then, Ceragon’s IP-50CX is exactly that ‘best of both worlds’ solution you’re looking for.

IP-50CX offers a flexible dual-core radio, allowing you to start with a single radio if that’s all your network needs, and then grow-as-you-go with an easy 1-click upgrade to dual-core when you’re ready. When it comes to capacity, the IP-50CX delivers with up to 6.5Gbps in a 4+0 all-outdoor configuration using layer-1 aggregation, ensuring you’ll have more than enough capacity for just about any application.

Speaking of capacity, the IP-50CX supports 224 MHz channels, making it easier for you to double your network capacity by transmitting 4 Gbps with a single unit. If network availability is your priority, moving to a 224 MHz bandwidth also allows you to reduce modulation and improve availability without having to increase your antenna size.

With the latest generation 25 Gigabit Ethernet Port, the IP-50CX offers a powerful feature neither the IP-20C or IP-50C have. Now, there is no need for an adapter when you want to connect to routers or switchers with 25 Gigabit ports. That also means: 

  • Faster data transfer
  • Reduced latency and
  • Improved utilization of network infrastructure. 

 

So, we’ve covered some of the impressive things the IP-50CX gives you…. How about what it saves you? Being an incredibly compact all-outdoor solution allows the IP-50CX to deliver a bevy of affordability benefits that all add up to a remarkably low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) thanks to things like:

  • Lower shipping charges
  • Lower tower rental fees
  • Lower power consumption
  • Easier installation
  • No need to pay cabinet and cooling cost
  • Faster Time-To-Market

 

IP-50CX truly offers the ‘best of both worlds’, combining the compact footprint and affordability of the IP-20C with the power and performance of the IP-50C. Plus, it brings important new features like the 25 Gigabit Ethernet port, making it a future-friendly solution tailored to today’s diverse network needs.

With tens of thousands of IP-50CX links already sold in 2024, it’s clear that Ceragon’s customers agree, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you for the overwhelming confidence you’ve shown in our continued commitment to wireless connectivity innovation!


Smarter Networks with Ceragon Insight

 

Connectivity is only as good as the network management behind it. Recognizing this, Ceragon introduced significant updates to the Ceragon Insight Unified Network Intelligence and Management Suite in 2024. This AI-powered software isn’t just a network health monitoring tool; it’s a data-driven automation solution with remarkable predictive and preventative capabilities.

One North American utility company saw a 30% drop in downtime after deploying Ceragon Insight. By leveraging real-time analytics and predictive maintenance, technicians identified and resolved issues before they became critical. The suite’s automated workflows streamlined operations, freeing up valuable time for strategic planning.

With complex networks becoming the norm, tools like Ceragon Insight are no longer optional—they’re essential. By offering operators a clear window into their network’s performance, Ceragon Insight enables smarter, faster decision-making and ensures every piece of the connectivity puzzle fits perfectly.

Those were just a handful of Ceragon’s innovative connectivity solutions released in 2024. We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming customer response over the past year and the opportunity it affords us to play a leading role in helping drive the wireless connectivity community forward.

2025: Going Big with E-Band


E-Band is packed with enormous promise and potential. In 2025, Ceragon will continue to develop and deliver wireless connectivity solutions that redefine what’s possible with this high-capacity wireless technology. From providing connectivity for massive municipalities and smaller smart cities to extending reliable communication to the most remote areas and purpose-driven private networks, Ceragon’s E-band solutions are designed to address the growing demand for speed, scalability, and flexibility.

2025 will see FIVE exciting additions to our industry-leading family of millimeter-wave solutions, starting with the lightweight and versatile EH-8020FX, designed for service providers and private networks seeking 20 Gbps capacity along with rapid friction-free deployments.

For those navigating dense urban environments or rural backhaul needs, the IP-50EX series delivers exceptional capacity in a compact footprint, offering tailored options to balance performance and reliability.

Most anticipated, however, is Ceragon’s the IP-100E. This next-generation E-Band solution promises to be a true game-changer built on Ceragon’s new Neptune System on a Chip (SoC) platform. The IP-100E is designed to handle the most data-intensive applications with ease, delivering unmatched capacity and flexibility for Tier 1 operators and enterprises alike. Those are just a few of the major launches we have in store for 2025.

Looking back at 2024, it’s clear that Ceragon has been at the forefront of solving real-world connectivity challenges with innovative, reliable, and cost-effective solutions. As we anticipate the challenges and opportunities of 2025, the Ceragon team remains committed to empowering customers with technologies that meet their evolving needs. Whether through future-friendly microwave and millimeter wave products, smarter private network solutions, or intelligent software, Ceragon will continue to lead the way, delivering connectivity everywhere.

If you've got a project coming up in 2025, speak to one of our solution experts today to get more information on how Ceragon can help meet your connectivity and service requirements.

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