Advancing innovation: How Ericsson and AT&T continue shaping the future of connectivity
- AT&T’s ongoing network transformation took center stage during a Town Hall at Ericsson Headquarters
- Dyon Agnew, Head of Customer Unit AT&T, reflects on how this collaboration is redefining telecommunications, turning a vision into reality, leading technology shifts and driving innovation
Head of Customer Unit AT&T, Ericsson Americas
Head of Customer Unit AT&T, Ericsson Americas
Head of Customer Unit AT&T, Ericsson Americas
Börje Ekholm, President & CEO, Ericsson, and Yossi Cohen, Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area Americas, Ericsson, hosted a Town Hall with John Stankey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AT&T, and Jeff McElfresh, Chief Operating Officer, AT&T, to our Ericsson headquarters. The meeting was more than a checkpoint — it was a powerful reaffirmation of our shared ambition and deep collaboration. Together, Ericsson and AT&T are boldly reshaping the future of connectivity, redefining what’s possible for networks and the people who rely on them.
The AT&T-Ericsson collaboration represents a deliberate decision to align capabilities, innovate together, and drive unmatched leadership. Both companies are committed to delivering transformative results, utilizing an unparalleled combination of next-generation infrastructure and operational excellence. We are redefining what’s possible in connectivity, anticipating tomorrow’s needs, unlocking new user experiences, and setting benchmarks for intelligent, secure, and sustainable networks. By combining advanced software, open radio access network (O-RAN), and robust security, we’re modernizing networks for speed, scale, and performance.
Accelerating network leadership: Progress and what’s next
In 2023, AT&T made a bold strategic move by choosing Ericsson as its collaborator in network transformation. This was a testament to AT&T’s trust in our joint collaboration and a launchpad for unprecedented innovation. “We believe we could get further faster on our objectives by collaborating with one company to find the better things we could do in bringing our two teams together,” said Stankey.
This bold commitment reinforces what’s possible when two organizations align their ambitions and leverage their expertise. AT&T’s deliberate decision to let Ericsson guide its network transformation wasn’t just innovative; it was transformative. Our shared foundation is built on trust, teamwork, and a shared vision to deliver.
- In just 12 months, we’ve gone further than we thought possible. Together, our teams have found new ways to deliver and innovate. Here are a few of the milestones we’ve already achieved that are redefining what’s possible: We’ve completed a significant number of the swap sites since last year, delivering faster downlink speeds and enhanced uplink spectral efficiency, creating one of the most advanced wireless networks in the industry.
- We completed the world’s first O-RAN call using third-party radios over AT&T’s commercial network: an important moment for programmability, scalability, and inclusivity in wireless architecture.
- With proactive measures, we’ve taken cybersecurity to new heights, addressing hygiene challenges and integrating advanced security protocols that position both companies as leaders in global telecommunications.
A collaboration that shapes the future and looking ahead
At Ericsson, we believe the work accomplished with AT&T creates ripple effects that extend far beyond today’s milestones. Whether we’re advancing cybersecurity standards, pioneering cloud RAN innovation, or designing programmable architectures, our collaboration serves as a testament to how connectivity can grow for the better.
The next chapter of our journey with AT&T is filled with extraordinary possibilities. Together, with a shared commitment to redefining connectivity, breaking barriers, and reshaping what’s imaginable for the industry, we are poised to lead the future of telecommunications. All of this reinforces my belief that AT&T’s network will emerge as a true global flagship — a benchmark for excellence and unmatched innovation.