In 2015, Ericsson began releasing products compatible with 5G, the fifth generation of mobile networks, even though commercial 5G networks had not yet been launched. This was possible because of Ericsson’s pivotal role in developing the 5G standard. And built on the corporate vision that in the networked society, everything that benefits from a connection will be connected.
In 2016, Ericsson launched Ericsson Radio Systems (ERS), a radio platform consisting of hardware, software, and services to assist operators in swiftly deploying new technology and expanding 5G coverage.
On 5 December 2018, Ericsson, network operator Telia, and university Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) inaugurated Sweden's first 5G network on the university’s campus, serving as a platform for innovation and research. A similar collaboration occurred between Ericsson, Telia, and TalTech University in Tallinn, where Estonia's first 5G network was launched in December 2018.
In 2020, commercial 5G networks were launched worldwide, affecting not just individual consumers but also how businesses and industries use mobile systems. 5G facilitated what became known as the “Internet of Things” (IoT), connecting not only smartphones but also enabling other things, such as refrigerators, cars, watches, and countless other devices, to connect and “talk” directly with each other.
And Ericsson has described 5G, in its annual report 2018, a platform for innovation. “Previous generations were centered around consumer and personal communications. 5G will serve consumers, enterprises and take the Internet of Things to the next level, where superior connectivity is a prerequisite. The transition to 5G also has a huge potential not only to develop energy efficient solutions, but also to help different sectors of society to reduce their environmental impact.”
Ericsson has continued to develop products that help companies globally deploy connected devices and leverage IoT to increase revenue. One such is the “IoT Accelerator”, an IoT platform that businesses can use to manage and oversee their connected devices.
As of early 2023, it was utilized by 9,000 companies to manage over 95 million devices and had 22 million eSIM connections.
In 2013, Ericsson launched the service Connected Vehicle Cloud, a cloud platform for cars. It enabled car manufacturers to develop and introduce new features and services for their connected cars, providing consumers with apps, navigation services, and entertainment. In 2023, Ericsson sold both services to the company Aeris, and acquired a minority stake in the company.
By 2050, it is projected that 24 billion devices will be interconnected – and they will require even faster connectivity. So the work moving forward just continues at Ericsson as it always has.
Currently, Ericsson is involved in developing 6G, the sixth generation of mobile systems. Ericsson envisions 6G as enabling the physical and digital worlds to seamlessly converge, perhaps creating an Internet of Senses that will provide an enhanced extended reality experience, engaging all our senses.
At the Mobile World Congress 2023, Ericsson demonstrated a 6G RAN prototype system with wired radio units, achieving a peak capacity of >100 Gbps at sub-THz frequencies. The collaborative organization 3GPP is expected to release the first 6G standard in 2028, and commercial 6G networks are predicted to be operational by 2030.