Ericsson Conducts First Live 6G Trial in US

The trial in Plano, Texas, utilized a pre-standard 6G system with a cloud-native and AI-native architecture. This infrastructure is designed to be flexible, allowing the software to run on various hardware platforms, including both CPUs and GPUs. The demonstration operated on a 400 MHz carrier bandwidth within the 7GHz centimeter wave (cmWave) spectrum. This use of cmWave spectrum, specifically frequencies between 7 and 15 GHz, is a key element of emerging 6G strategies. This band is seen as a sweet spot, offering a balance of wider bandwidth for higher capacity than current 5G mid-bands, and better coverage than the higher-frequency millimeter wave spectrum. This allows for the reuse of much of the existing cellular grid, reducing deployment costs. The move towards a cloud-native infrastructure for 6G is a significant architectural shift from previous generations. This approach, where network functions are decoupled and run as software services, is intended to increase resource efficiency, scalability, and resilience. Ultimately, it will allow for the dynamic assembly of network functions to meet customized demands. Ericsson's 6G development efforts involve collaborations with other major technology players. The company is working with Apple on multi-RAT spectrum sharing between 5G and 6G, and with MediaTek on 6G cmWave data calls to support AI-enhanced extended reality (XR). Additionally, Ericsson and Qualcomm are jointly prototyping AI and AR experiences for future 6G networks. The trial is part of a broader push to position the U.S. at the forefront of 6G development, a technology considered critical for future economic competitiveness and national security. Ericsson has invested significantly in its US operations, including a $150 million 5G smart factory in Lewisville, Texas, which employs over 550 people and is intended to support future 6G manufacturing. Beyond just faster speeds, 6G is expected to enable a new range of applications by integrating communication and sensing. In a separate proof of concept at the same Plano facility, Ericsson demonstrated using its network for Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) to detect and track drones, a capability expected to be a foundational part of 6G. While commercial 6G networks are not expected until around 2030, these early pre-standard trials are crucial for research and for shaping the eventual global standards. The 3GPP, the global standards body, is beginning to study the requirements for the next generation of wireless technology, which it will designate as IMT-2030.