Networks as a platform for innovation
With the evolution of 5G and beyond, we are moving technological boundaries forward to create the biggest innovation platform ever. New consumer and enterprise services, along with new use cases for the digitalization of industries, create business opportunities across all sectors. It is clear that 5G is more than a network — it is a platform for innovation, capable of exponential positive impact on our society.
5G for connected vehicles crossing country borders
Free movement of people and goods across country borders is one of the cornerstones of the European Union. As vehicles, drivers, goods, and passengers increasingly use advanced services that rely on mobile networks, uninterrupted mobile connectivity becomes essential for when crossing from one country to another. Roaming has been a feature of cellular networks since 2G, but seamless service transition from one country to another is still not possible. When crossing a border, cellular devices hang on to their home network as long as possible until they eventually lose connection and search for a new network. Currently, such handovers between national mobile networks can result in several seconds, or even minutes, of service interruption.
What is inconvenient for services like web browsing or voice calls can render connected driving services in Europe infeasible. Services like hazard warnings, or HD Maps providing vital input to assisted and automated driving decision algorithms, should be available also in the many border areas in Europe.
To ensure this service availability, Ericsson engages in continuous innovation with its partners to achieve seamless handovers between national mobile networks. Once this cross-border service continuity is established, the work will continue to also enable network features, such as controlled end-to-end quality of service and mobile edge computing/cloud (MEC) across network service providers in neighboring countries.
Main focus areas
Future smart manufacturing
Combined with IoT, cloud, big data, AI, and edge computing, 5G will be a critical enabler of the fourth industrial revolution, just as steam, electricity, and silicon were for the three industrial revolutions before it.
Connected automotive and transport
Vehicle manufacturers increasingly deliver services in addition to selling vehicles and therefore invest heavily in automation, architecture simplification, and new drivetrain technologies, such as electrification.
eXtended reality
Think of playing a high-fidelity VR game with other remote players without any lag, making you feel as if you are inside the game, on a neat lightweight device, wherever you go.
