SoftBank and Ericsson boost 5G performance with uplink switching

Enhancing 5G network performance through new uplink switching technologies is the focus of a new SoftBank and Ericsson partnership.

Most commercial cellular infrastructures operate with heavy downlink bias. Telcos allocated spectrum and configured time-division structures under the assumption that users consume far more data than they generate.

The proliferation of heavy mobile applications and local AI processing now challenges that initial structural assumption. User traffic patterns show constant generation of rich media requiring instantaneous cloud transmission.

To address this pressure, SoftBank has partnered with Ericsson to introduce new engineering controls on its domestic infrastructure. The two companies are implementing “Uplink Tx Switching” to improve data transmission from devices to the cellular tower within standalone 5G networks. By optimising carrier aggregation alongside multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) protocols, this deployment will establish more stable and high-capacity connections.

Research distributed in the November 2025 edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report identifies AI agents and AI-enabled hardware as primary factors driving future increases in network upload requirements. As these agents continually send ambient environment data, voice inputs, and high-resolution media to cloud processing centres, operators face a steep trajectory in traffic volume.

Re-engineering resource allocation

Improving transmission capacity requires operators to balance available spectrum resources efficiently. In previous network configurations, SoftBank engineers augmented time division duplex (TDD) uplink speeds by employing carrier aggregation alongside frequency division duplex (FDD) spectrum bands. This method combined distinct frequency bands to widen the total data pipeline available to the mobile device.

The newer approach, defined within the 3GPP Release 16 specifications, alters this strategy by dynamically reallocating radio resources. Uplink Tx Switching operates by momentarily pausing the FDD connection precisely when the device is actively transmitting over the TDD connection. Suspending the FDD link allows the smartphone’s radio frequency frontend to direct its transmission power and antenna paths entirely to the TDD band.

This instantaneous reallocation process enables the device to execute MIMO communication over the much wider bandwidth inherent to TDD spectrum.

SoftBank has verified this technical configuration internally, specifically testing simultaneous transmission across the n1 and n77 frequency bands. Based on these tests, the operator anticipates an absolute throughput improvement approaching 1.5 times current capacities.

Deploying advanced physical layer features requires tight coordination across the entire telecoms supply chain. The hardware resting in the user’s hand also dictates the viable connection quality.

Recognising this hardware dependency, SoftBank and Ericsson began coordinating with semiconductor vendors throughout 2024. The partners executed joint performance verification tests starting at the earliest stages of baseband chipset development.

This long lead time ensures the necessary radio frequency switching logic is fully baked into the modems powering the next generation of mobile devices, leading to successful integration within SoftBank’s operational network environment. The targeted commercial availability for this network capability begins with compatible smartphones scheduled for a summer 2026 release.

Enterprise economics and architecture value

Uplink enhancements translate directly to service reliability and advanced monetisation capabilities. Corporate leaders managing remote field forces, media production units, and logistics fleets rely heavily on consistent upload speeds. A telecoms provider offering guaranteed transmission of heavy data payloads stands to capture premium service agreements, directly influencing average revenue per user (ARPU) metrics.

When AI tools process local sensor data, they require continuous cloud synchronisation via hyperscaler environments. If the local network cannot support the necessary data egress rates, latency spikes occur, and the enterprise application fails.

By optimising the uplink architecture, operators protect their high-value enterprise contracts against service degradation. Expanding capacity allows operators to support advanced industrial applications, smart city infrastructure, and intensive computer vision analytics without forcing a complete physical densification of the cellular grid.

Monetising these elevated uplink speeds requires concurrent updates to legacy business support systems (BSS) and operational support systems (OSS). Operators looking to sell dedicated uplink slices to enterprise customers must ensure their billing engines can accurately meter outbound traffic generated by specific AI processes.

Simultaneously, routing this traffic directly to multi-cloud environments demands tight integration with hyperscaler edge zones, ensuring the data offloaded from the SoftBank network reaches processing servers with minimal delay.

TowerCos also monitor these radio access network developments closely. As uplink speeds increase and devices transmit heavier payloads more frequently, the power and cooling requirements at the physical cell site can fluctuate. Managing these environmental factors is essential for maintaining passive infrastructure margins.

Wholesale carriers gain new wholesale products; by leasing access to networks equipped with advanced Uplink Tx Switching, they can offer bespoke IoT connectivity packages tailored for high-definition video surveillance and continuous telemetry logging.

Advancing towards Release 17

The current implementation based on Release 16 specifications represents a specific milestone in a broader engineering roadmap. Global telecoms standards bodies continually refine these interaction models to squeeze additional efficiency from existing spectrum holdings. SoftBank aims to continue expanding the compatible device ecosystem and the geographic coverage footprint for this specific switching technology.

SoftBank and Ericsson plan to continue their collaboration to drive further performance gains. The engineering teams are evaluating methods to support MIMO functionality across FDD frequency bands, a feature explicitly defined within the subsequent 3GPP Release 17 standard.

Achieving this will require operators to carefully manage their legacy network investments while upgrading base station hardware to support the complex baseband processing required for diverse MIMO applications.

Upgrading these radio environments demands careful capital expenditure planning, often involving complex negotiations with equipment vendors and deep integration testing to prevent service interruptions across existing user bases.

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