Ericsson flags 'Future Factory 2035'

Ericsson used its GITEX platform to pitch a “Future Factory 2035” built around fifth-generation wireless networks, automation and industrial planning for the Gulf region. (ericsson.com) At GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai, held October 13-17, Ericsson said its stand would show how differentiated connectivity, artificial intelligence-driven automation and mission-critical networks can shape industrial applications. The company also used the event for “Tech Insights” interviews with industry leaders and partners. (ericsson.com) Ericsson’s event page framed the pitch as a move beyond basic data transport, saying factories and other enterprises will need networks tuned for specific jobs, from industrial internet of things sensors to mission-critical operations. It described fifth-generation advanced networks as a way to deliver more predictable performance, security and reliability. (ericsson.com) A smart factory is a plant where machines, sensors and software share live data so production lines can adjust in real time. Ericsson says that kind of setup depends on continuous, high-quality connectivity, especially when factories want full automation rather than isolated pilot projects. (ericsson.com) The company’s manufacturing pitch centers on private wireless networks, which are dedicated on-site mobile networks rather than public carrier service. Ericsson says its private fifth-generation product is designed for industrial sites that need secure, high-speed connections for equipment, workers and software systems inside a plant. (ericsson.com) Ericsson has been building this message across its manufacturing business, arguing that legacy factory networks often leave data delayed or fragmented. In a January 2026 company blog post, it said artificial intelligence models, digital twins and predictive maintenance systems lose value when operational data arrives late or inconsistently. (ericsson.com) The regional backdrop is a fast buildout of newer mobile infrastructure. Ericsson’s June 2025 Mobility Report projected that fifth-generation service will account for 90 percent of mobile subscriptions in Gulf Cooperation Council countries by 2030, totaling 86 million subscriptions. (ericsson.com) Ericsson has also used its own factory in Lewisville, Texas, as a proof point for the manufacturing case. The company says that site, which marked five years of fifth-generation manufacturing in March 2025, runs around the clock and uses a private fifth-generation network in a live production environment. (ericsson.com) The GITEX message was less about a single product launch than about a long-range industrial roadmap: connect more machines, move more factory data in real time, and plan for automation around dedicated wireless infrastructure. Ericsson’s “Future Factory 2035” pitch fits the company’s broader effort to sell networks as industrial systems, not just telecom equipment. (ericsson.com)