Ericsson conducts first live 6G trial
Ericsson conducted the world's first live 6G trial in Texas. The demonstration used new 6G centimeter-wave spectrum and a cloud-native infrastructure to power AI robotics and real-time video streaming, marking a milestone in next-generation wireless technology.
The trial, conducted at Ericsson's U.S. headquarters in Plano, Texas, utilized a pre-standard 6G system. This system operated on a 400 MHz carrier bandwidth within the 7GHz centimeter-wave spectrum. The demonstration showcased a complete end-to-end system, including radio hardware, RAN Compute, and cloud-native software platforms. A key element of the demonstration was its AI-native and cloud-native architecture. This design approach is fundamental to 6G, which is expected to be a platform for intelligent applications rather than just a connectivity provider. The cloud-native infrastructure allows for greater flexibility, scalability, and efficiency in managing network resources. The choice of centimeter-wave (cmWave) spectrum is significant for future 6G networks. This frequency range, between 7 GHz and 15 GHz, offers a balance of wider bandwidths for higher data rates and better coverage compared to the higher-frequency millimeter wave (mmWave) bands used in 5G. While this trial focused on AI and video streaming, Ericsson is also actively researching other 6G applications. In collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin, the company is exploring the use of 6G to power immersive extended reality (XR) experiences, which will require consistently low latency and high capacity. This demonstration is part of a broader global race towards 6G, with commercial deployment anticipated around 2030. Ericsson is also collaborating with other industry leaders, such as Apple and MediaTek, on different aspects of 6G technology, including spectrum sharing and developing new user equipment prototypes, which will be showcased at events like Mobile World Congress 2026. Recently, at the same Plano facility, Ericsson also demonstrated a 6G-era capability called Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). This technology enables the network to "sense" its environment, as shown in a proof of concept for drone detection, hinting at a future where wireless networks provide services beyond just communication.
