Ericsson Conducts First Live 6G Trial in U.S.
Ericsson announced the first live 6G trial in the U.S., conducted at its facility in Texas. The demonstration used new 6G centimeter-wave spectrum and cloud-native infrastructure to power AI robotics and real-time video streaming. The test included processing tasks for a cloud-hosted large language model, showcasing a use case for AI-native 6G networks.
The Ericsson trial is a key step in the broader 6G development, which envisions networks operating on new, higher-frequency bands. The "centimeter-wave" (cmWave) spectrum used in the Texas demo, likely between 7-15 GHz, is a prime candidate for 6G, offering a balance of high capacity and decent coverage. This is a significant jump from the sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies that dominate 5G. The demonstration's use of a cloud-native infrastructure is critical for handling the massive data throughput and low latency 6G promises—the goal is to support speeds up to 1,000 times faster than 5G with latency as low as one microsecond. This architecture is essential for AI-native networks, where machine learning models are deeply integrated into network operations, from managing traffic to enabling new services. A core feature of 6G is the concept of the network as a sensor. By analyzing how radio signals bounce off objects, future networks will be able to create a real-time digital twin of the physical world, detecting things like unseen vehicles or even a person's heartbeat without cameras. This capability, known as Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), relies heavily on AI to interpret the complex signal reflections. The trial's focus on processing tasks for a large language model (LLM) highlights the symbiotic relationship between 6G and AI. Future networks will not only use AI for optimization but will also provide the ultra-low latency needed to run complex AI systems, like autonomous robots and real-time holographic communication, by offloading computation to the network edge. Ericsson is actively partnering with AI firms like Mistral AI to co-develop AI agents specifically for network management and 6G research. This U.S.-based trial is part of a global race to define and deploy 6G. While commercial deployment isn't expected until around 2030, major players are already prototyping and pushing for spectrum allocation. Ericsson is also collaborating with companies like Qualcomm, Apple, and MediaTek on pre-standard 6G prototypes and spectrum sharing technologies to ensure a smooth transition from 5G. The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) is set to make key decisions on 6G spectrum at its 2027 meeting, with the 7.125-8.4 GHz band being a key area of study for the Americas.
