Ericsson Conducts First Live 6G Trial
Ericsson has conducted the world's first live 6G trial in Texas. The demonstration showcased AI-powered robotics and real-time video streaming using new 6G centimeter wave spectrum and cloud-native infrastructure. The company stated the milestone is intended to support American leadership in the development of AI-native 6G technology.
The trial was a live, over-the-air session conducted at Ericsson's U.S. headquarters in Plano, Texas. It served as a validation of the essential building blocks of a 6G system, including the radio hardware, cloud-based computing, and a software-defined air interface. This demonstration utilized the centimetric wave (cmWave) spectrum, specifically frequencies in the 7-15 GHz range. This band is considered a prime candidate for initial 6G deployments because it offers a favorable balance of high data capacity and reliable coverage. While this is a significant first step, commercial 6G networks are not expected to launch until around 2030. The global standards body, 3GPP, is projected to complete the first technical specifications for 6G in 2028. The push for 6G is a global race, with significant research and development efforts also underway in South Korea, led by companies like Samsung, as well as in China and the European Union. In the U.S., the government has invested billions to support domestic 6G innovation. The description of 6G as "AI-native" reflects a core design principle: the network is being built to both use and support artificial intelligence from the ground up. To this end, Ericsson has partnered with AI firms like Mistral AI to research AI-assisted network management and development. Building the next generation of wireless requires a broad ecosystem. Ericsson is collaborating with device and chipset partners, including Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek, on other prototypes to ensure future devices and networks are interoperable.
