Ericsson and SoftBank forge tech alliance towards future networks

Ericsson and SoftBank have forged a partnership evaluating, promoting, and co-creating what they call “NextWave Tech” for future networks.

The collaboration – which runs through 2030 – encompasses a range of advanced technologies, including AI, Cloud Radio Access Network (RAN), Extended Reality (XR), and, of course, 6G.

Jawad Manssour, President and Representative Director of Ericsson Japan, said: “This new collaboration with SoftBank marks a significant step forward in realising the full potential of AI-powered connectivity technologies.

“By combining our expertise in RAN and AI, we are poised to drive innovation and shape SoftBank’s future of mobile networks, empowering their technology leadership through 2030.”

Ericsson and SoftBank will jointly explore innovative use cases and drive technological advancements designed to revolutionise cellular network architectures. Both companies have expressed a strong commitment to actively invest in bringing these “NextWave Tech” innovations to fruition.

A key aspect of the partnership will involve joint efforts in blueprinting the roadmaps for future networks. This approach aims to ensure that all activities are aligned with their respective long-term visions and will pave the way for industry leadership in the years to come.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed this week outlines several key areas where Ericsson and SoftBank will deepen and broaden their existing collaboration. These include:

• Evaluating commercial readiness for Cloud RAN deployment: This will involve the use of Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) and Radio Access Network applications (rApps), including the integration of AI technology to optimise network performance and efficiency.
• Establishing efficient and effective network design strategies for emerging use cases such as XR: This will focus on developing network architectures capable of supporting the high bandwidth and low latency demands of immersive experiences.
• Exploring new ways of utilising radio waves: This includes investigating the integration of sensing and communication technologies to unlock new functionalities and applications.
• Promoting the effective use of centimetre Wave technologies: This initiative aims to position Japan as a leader in the development and deployment of 6G networks, leveraging the high-frequency spectrum for enhanced capabilities.

Hideyuki Tsukuda, Executive Vice President and CTO at SoftBank, commented: “Our new partnership with Ericsson allows us to explore cutting-edge solutions that will redefine network capabilities and customer experience.

“Our joint efforts in areas such as 6G and AI will not only enhance the performance of our network, but also pave the way for new business opportunities and technological breakthroughs.”

By leveraging the power of AI and cloud-based network solutions, the partners aim to drive connectivity advancements that will play a crucial role in the ongoing digital transformation of society.

(Photo by Hannah Gibbs)

See also: NVIDIA aims to make telecoms networks smarter

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Tags: 6g, ai, artificial intelligence, cloud, cloud ran, connectivity, ericsson, extended reality, mobile, Networks, RAN, softbank, telecoms, xr