Mobile World Congress earlier this year was a great opportunity to speak with CSPs from all over the world, and one thing consistently resonates. They want to deploy 5G wherever it’s needed – whether that’s a fish and chip shop, a ship, airline or global IoT solution – but all too often they are frustrated because they don’t have a core available to support these use cases.
What if we could address this “no core available” problem head on? It’s a simple idea, but a powerful one. And it’s part of a much bigger shift.
We’ve now announced, in collaboration with Google, Ericsson On-Demand, a SaaS core platform designed to help CSPs move faster, experiment more freely, and expand with less risk. Instead of writing about its features, I’m writing about the stories I hear from our customers confirming that the core conversation is changing.
Everyone understands SaaS. What excites them is where it’s going
Across the board, mobile operators get the SaaS model immediately. But what excites them most is seeing it applied to the core. An area that’s historically been synonymous with infrastructure and data centers, ownership, and complexity.
Now, they’re seeing the freedom to act. To spin up new services faster, with a dedicated network slice and SaaS core to test ideas. To reach new markets, and run smaller, complementary networks without needing weeks of alignment or significant budget approvals.
This shift is opening up untapped opportunities, from private networks and fixed wireless access to disaster recovery and B2B expansion strategies. And it’s happening organically with no friction.
Try it, love it, scale it
Operators want faster deployment and the ability to test ideas in the real world. One example that stood out was an operator exploring how to scale out their 5G Fixed Wireless Access offering. Their plan is to use Ericsson On-Demand initially in a specific region and test the user experience. If all goes well, then they will scale up the solution with new and migrated subscribers.
The difference? They’d only pay for the offloaded capacity. No CapEx, no long procurement process. Just fast, focused experimentation.
From always-on to always-available
In parts of Europe, data center space is at a premium. One operator described how their currently overprovisioned disaster recovery capacity, is essentially reserving a second core that sits idle most of the time, just in case. It’s taking up the data center space they would need to use for revenue generating solutions.
They’re now looking at how a future version of Ericsson On-Demand could let them shift that model to the cloud. Instead of maintaining two cores, they could run one and treat the other like an insurance policy. Available when needed, but without occupying valuable infrastructure 24/7.
B2B at speed
Another CSP with growing B2B ambitions saw the value of using Ericsson On-Demand to expand into new regions without setting up new physical cores, or renting whole facilities from one of the global data center providers. Instead of coordinating local infrastructure, they could move quickly, building a commercial case in parallel with network rollout.
They wouldn’t need to scale up until the market proved itself. It’s a modular approach to expansion that mirrors how many of their customers already consume cloud services themselves.
Rebalancing resources
Even well-resourced operators have limited time and attention. One conversation stuck with me. A network leader told us, “My team is too busy keeping the lights on and doing network upgrades, they cannot focus on introducing our 5G [SA] Fixed wireless solution”
That’s what resonated. Ericsson On-Demand isn’t a replacement for existing cores. It’s a complement. A way to run smaller, purpose-built networks that deliver value without draining internal resources. We often think of the cost of these people on the bottom line, but if we consider the opportunity cost of lost business, this is even bigger.
The suitcase is just a symbol
Our teams often bring a small suitcase to customer demos, like the one pictured above. One of them joked that with just a few radio nodes and cloud connectivity, it’s everything you need to run a 5G network, right there in the case. That’s the real shift. From building and owning everything, to simply connecting and enabling, thanks to public cloud access and a SaaS-based core.
What matters most isn’t the set of features in the suitcase (which are great by the way), it’s what it enables. Low-barrier innovation, leaner go-to-market models, and a new kind of flexibility for CSPs who want to move faster, without taking on more complexity.
So, if you’re curious about Ericsson On-Demand, then try it. There’s no heavy lift, no big decision to get started. Just a chance to explore what’s next.
Ericsson On-Demand helps you move faster, with less complexity. Visit our launch page to find out more.
