Ericsson Conducts First Live 6G Trial in Texas
Ericsson conducted the world's first live 6G trial in Texas, demonstrating its use for AI-powered robotics and real-time video streaming. The trial utilized new 6G centimeter-wave spectrum and cloud-native infrastructure. The company positioned the milestone as a key step in supporting American leadership in the development of AI-native 6G technology.
The trial took place at Ericsson's U.S. headquarters in Plano, Texas, and represents a significant step towards the commercial rollout of 6G, which is anticipated around 2030. This live test of a pre-standard 6G system showcases the increasing pace of 6G development, with pre-commercial trials expected as early as 2028. A key element of the demonstration was the use of centimeter-wave (cmWave) spectrum, specifically in the 7-15 GHz range. This part of the spectrum is considered a crucial component for 6G as it offers a blend of wide-area coverage and high-capacity bandwidth, a combination essential for future applications. This approach allows for the potential reuse of existing 3.5 GHz site grids, which could streamline the eventual deployment of 6G networks. The trial also heavily relied on a cloud-native infrastructure, a design principle that is foundational to 6G. This approach treats network functions as modular services that can be dynamically managed across a continuum of edge and cloud resources, offering greater flexibility, scalability, and efficiency. A cloud-native design is seen as essential for supporting the complex and diverse applications expected in the 6G era. This milestone aligns with the U.S. government's strategic focus on taking a leading role in the development of 6G technology, which is considered critical for national security and economic competitiveness. Initiatives like the National Spectrum Strategy and public-private partnerships are being established to foster innovation and guide the development of 6G standards. Ericsson is involved in numerous global 6G projects, including the Next G Alliance and Hexa-X, the European Union's 6G flagship initiative. The company's research extends to other key 6G technologies like Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), which would enable networks to act as massive real-time sensor systems. The development of 6G is a global race, with significant research and development efforts underway in regions like South Korea, China, and Europe. While this Texas trial is a notable first, the path to a global 6G standard will involve extensive collaboration and competition among various international players. The first 6G technical specifications are expected to be finalized by 2028 under the 3GPP Release 21.
