As with Nokia Siemens Networks, not a lot of obvious iron on display. Instead, Software Defined Networks are this year’s big buzz on the infrastructure side of the business and Ericsson has made SDN its major theme for MWC 2013. And it’s also highlighting OSS and BSS, LTE and VoLTE.

That’s the problem with being a technology giant - you’re always going to have more than one focus.

Ericsson is tagging SDN as the future of data networks and defines its role as ensuring operators have the tools to build real-time platforms that will allow them to offer cloud services to consumers and enterprises.

The pitch is that current data center SDN switching and controller technology won’t cut it in the future real-time environment that will be the telecom network. It will require a carrier-grade, virtualized infrastructure - thats the Ericsson’s definition of the Service Provider SDN.

It will also show off its carrier aggregation capabilities - delivering high speed data over different chunks of spectrum. This, it claims, will enable operators to get to peak data rates over 150Mbit/s.

To the same Advanced LTE ends, it will be showing ‘combined cell’ (running small and macro together without interference); small active antenna systems; and VoLTE (voice over LTE) demonstrations over and between various mobile network types.

Backhaul is of course a “key parameter for achieving superior network performance”; without proper backhaul planning you're nowhere. And it will be showing its “Key Event Experience” described as an end-to-end solution that enables operators to deliver rock-solid network performance during events - big sports games, mega conferences and so on.

Ericsson clims it has the “broadest and deepest portfolio of all vendors in OSS and BSS”, recently been further strengthened though the acquisition of ConceptWave.

Ericsson Wallet Platform is seen as a huge opportunity tied to its 'Charging & Billing in One' solution which already has 1.6 billion customers. Ericsson will use MWC to demonstrate how it can open the wallet for operators by converting these pre-paid customers to mobile wallet accounts.