Ericsson Conducts First Live 6G Trial
Ericsson has conducted what it calls the world's first live 6G trial in Texas. The milestone demonstration showcased the use of new 6G centimeter wave spectrum to power AI robotics and real-time video streaming. The company stated the trial supports American leadership in the development of AI-native 6G technology.
The trial in Plano, Texas, was a pre-standard, over-the-air (OTA) session. It utilized a 400 MHz carrier bandwidth in the 7GHz centimeter-wave (cmWave) spectrum. This demonstration was built on an end-to-end architecture that is both cloud-native and AI-native, incorporating radio hardware, RAN Compute, and software-defined air interfaces. The focus on the cmWave spectrum is a strategic shift from the early emphasis on millimeter wave (mmWave) in 5G. This part of the spectrum is seen by Ericsson and other industry leaders as a crucial "workhorse" for 6G, offering a balance of wide-area coverage and high-capacity bandwidth. This approach is expected to allow for the reuse of existing 5G site grids, potentially lowering deployment costs. While specific performance metrics for this trial have not been released, the long-term goal for 6G is to deliver speeds of several hundred gigabits per second with sub-millisecond latency. To put this in perspective, other advanced 5G trials have demonstrated latency reductions of around 90% and peak data rates of over 1 Gbps for a single user. The AI robotics component of the demonstration likely involves the humanoid robot from Realbotix deployed at Ericsson's Imagine Studio in Plano. This robot is designed for tasks such as employee training and guiding interactive tours, utilizing vision systems to interact with people. The integration of AI in 6G is not just about the applications it can power, but also about using AI to manage the network itself for greater efficiency and reliability. The development of 6G is a global effort, with commercial deployment expected around 2030. The standardization process is underway, with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) targeting the finalization of the first 6G specifications by the end of 2028. This trial is an early, yet significant, step in that direction. Ericsson is also collaborating with other major tech companies to build a 6G ecosystem. Partnerships with Apple and MediaTek are focused on demonstrating 5G and 6G spectrum sharing and developing 6G prototype systems. This collaborative approach is crucial for ensuring the interoperability of networks and devices when 6G becomes commercially available. Looking ahead, Ericsson plans to manufacture its next-generation 6G network equipment at its 5G Smart Factory in Lewisville, Texas. This commitment to domestic manufacturing is aimed at strengthening the U.S. role in the future of wireless technology and ensuring a secure supply chain.
