MWC 2025 Ericsson Executive Team Q&A: Åsa Tamsons

Tamsons has held her current role since November 2023, having previously served as head of Business Area Technologies and New Businesses since joining Ericsson in 2018.

1. What are Business Area Enterprise Wireless Solutions’ priorities for the year ahead?

"Continuing to lead with our innovative digital solutions. In 2025, businesses will demand networks that do more than simply connect—they need to power transformation. Now, more than ever, we're laser focused on providing networks that are not only high-performing but also flexible and available everywhere. 5G represents a significant leap in connectivity, enabling businesses and government agencies to implement innovative digital solutions and achieve greater operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and market competitiveness. This connectivity is no longer optional; it's the foundational backbone of sustained success in the digital age.

As industries push toward greater automation and operational intelligence, private cellular networks are proving to be the critical enabler of this transformation. In a world where speed, adaptability, and security are paramount, private networks are the foundation that will allow businesses to innovate and scale with confidence, ensuring they are positioned at the cutting edge of Industry 4.0.

At the core of everything we do is a commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for our customers and partners, and helping businesses achieve more with less effort and lighter infrastructure. With the growing complexity of networks and business operations, solutions that simplify management, improve decision-making, and reduce downtime will become the key to success. Our generative AI-based NetCloud Assistant (ANA) is an essential tool for businesses to stay agile and data-driven."

2. What is the current momentum in Ericsson Private 5G business – from a global and regional perspective? 

"The surge in adoption of private cellular networks is clear, with a growing number of industries capitalizing on the transformative advantages these solutions offer. Enterprises are increasingly turning to Private 5G to drive automation, enhance operational insights, and bolster safety, all while ensuring their networks remain flexible, scalable, and seamlessly deployable. A few recent observations about the current state of Private 5G.

We're witnessing proof-of-concept projects rapidly evolving into successful commercial deployments. The "land and expand" model is accelerating adoption, as enterprises begin to realize the tangible returns on their initial investments. This momentum is driving faster scaling and repeatable use cases across industries. One excellent example is Ericsson’s partnership with JLR and the implementation of Ericsson Private 5G at JLR’s Solihull plant, which is revolutionizing automotive manufacturing by enabling real-time, seamless data transmission for AI, IoT, and automation applications. This transformation not only boosts operational efficiency but also paves the way for greater innovation and future scalability across JLR’s global operations.

As industries increasingly face demands for speed, productivity, and security, the adoption of cutting-edge technologies like Private 5G has become critical. Private 5G networks are driving key use cases that are reshaping business landscapes, such as enabling seamless connectivity between workers and sensors, automating and managing fleets of vehicles, and enhancing security with AI-powered surveillance cameras. These advancements are not just improving operational efficiency—they’re fundamentally transforming how businesses function. For instance, connecting workers and sensors through Private 5G networks allows for real-time data collection and analysis, which streamlines decision-making and increases productivity. What’s more, the deployment of these solutions is happening at an accelerated pace, allowing businesses to quickly realize the benefits.

 With the rise of Industry 4.0, European enterprises are increasingly seeking reliable, secure, and high-performance networks to support automation, real-time data analytics, and IoT applications. We meet customers exactly where they are—whether in the early stages of analysis, testing new solutions, or actively deploying and scaling operations based on 5G networks. Our go-to-market strategy ensures that we deliver tailored, scalable solutions that enable smooth, seamless integration into existing operations. By aligning with our customers' digital transformation journeys, we help them unlock the full potential of Private 5G to drive innovation and business growth."

3. Why should industries/enterprises/organizations choose Ericsson over other potential Private 5G connectivity partners as a Private 5G solution provider?

"In 2025, as enterprises continue their digital transformation, having a trusted partner with a proven track record is more important than ever. Ericsson’s leadership in 5G, with a history of delivering robust networks worldwide, reference cases and experience from successful implementations across industries, and a broad partner network, ensures that we’re not just providing technology, but also the insights and support to help businesses succeed. Our global presence allows us to offer scalable, localized solutions that adapt to specific business needs, which is crucial as enterprises strive for growth in an increasingly connected world.

Our comprehensive ecosystem bridges operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) by offering ready tested solutions that seamlessly integrate with both new and legacy devices. This ecosystem includes a wide array of partners, from device and platform providers to systems integrators, and resellers, ensuring that our customers don’t just get connectivity, but they get complete solutions that help deliver tangible business outcomes.

As we move into 2025, enterprises are facing the challenge of managing increasingly complex digital environments, with evolving demands for performance, security, and flexibility. Ericsson's Enterprise Wireless Solutions are built to not only meet today’s needs but also scale seamlessly as businesses evolve. By offering end-to-end solutions, from connectivity to AI-powered management tools, and a strong ecosystem of partners, we make it easier for our customers to focus on the IT and OT applications that will drive business outcomes- capitalizing on new opportunities including in AI, IoT, automation, or beyond, without the constant worry of needing to overhaul their networks."

4. How does the scope of Enterprise Wireless Solutions’ products and capabilities support Ericsson’s wider industry ambitions for making 5G the connectivity of choice?

"At Ericsson, we’ve taken a strategic and thoughtful approach to evolving our portfolio to meet enterprises’ growing demand for secure, high-performance connectivity. We recognize that every enterprise is at a different point in their 5G journey, and our goal is to meet them where they are—offering a unified experience that helps them move forward at their own pace and where most value can be realized.

Whether using the public network, leveraging a slice of the 5G network with differentiated services from carriers, or installing a private network on-premises, our entire portfolio is designed to meet our customers where their businesses are located and wherever they are on their 5G adoption journey. We also offer solutions to cover gaps in public networks with our neutral host and enhanced indoor coverage options.

NetCloud Manager, Ericsson's comprehensive cloud management platform, simplifies the security, deployment, seamless provisioning, unified policy management, and visibility across networks. With AIOps-driven insights, enterprises can continuously optimize their 5G networks, enhancing performance and making data-driven decisions in real-time. This approach aligns with Ericsson’s wider strategy of creating intelligent 5G networks that can scale across diverse industries, empowering businesses with the tools they need to innovate and compete in a connected world.

By focusing on flexibility and simplicity, we’re not just supporting businesses in adopting 5G—we’re helping them transform in ways that make a real difference."

5. One of Ericsson’s priorities is to drive growth within enterprise private networks. How do you foresee 2025 playing out on the road to profitable growth?

"I am confident about the path ahead and the growth opportunities within Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions. In 2024 we saw solid year-over-year sales growth, driven by accelerated demand for Private 5G, neutral host solutions, and our wireless WAN & security solutions, and we expect that to continue.

This year we are continuing to build on the real-world impact our 5G solutions are driving across industries. Our platform offers a range of solutions that are easy to manage, all under one unified management system. Our goal is to make 5G adoption seamless and accessible for everyone, from large enterprises to small businesses, as well as public sector and government agencies.

With a strong pipeline of transformative solutions and a global presence that is scaling fast, we’re primed to accelerate growth, deliver value, and establish Ericsson as the go-to partner for enterprises looking for secure and innovative wireless infrastructure platforms to thrive in a connected world."

6. What are Business Area Enterprise Wireless Solutions’ main goals at MWC 2025?

"At MWC Barcelona 2025, we’re showcasing how enterprises can harness the power of public and private networks to drive innovation across industries. With a strong ecosystem of global partners, we’re enabling businesses to transform operations and deliver new levels of performance, agility, and efficiency. We are addressing some of the most vital issues facing enterprises, including:

Our hospital supply room demonstration highlights the transformative potential of AI and data-driven decision-making, with Chooch's AI computer vision technology front and center. By leveraging AI-driven cameras to monitor inventory in real time, Chooch enables healthcare organizations to significantly improve inventory accuracy and reduce waste, illustrating a practical application of advanced analytics that can reshape operational efficiency in the healthcare sector.

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the ability to swiftly implement secure and high-speed connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity for small and medium-sized businesses striving to maintain a competitive edge. Our Business Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solutions demonstration exemplifies this paradigm shift, offering an innovative alternative to traditional wired networks. By embracing FWA, businesses can not only enhance their operational agility but also position themselves to seize new opportunities in customer engagement and market expansion.

5G is no longer just about faster connectivity; it’s the backbone that enables edge computing, IoT, and Industry 4.0 innovations with full mobility, flexibility and being both reliable and secure. Our Neutral Host demo at MWC features a scaled-down replica of a Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing floor, where we’ll highlight the integration of key partners—Litmus, Atlas Copco, Streamwide, Zebra, and Dassault Systems—to deliver the latest manufacturing applications powered by 5G. Attendees will experience how real-time location capabilities can transform operations, thanks to the next generation of network APIs and seamless connectivity solutions that easily integrate into existing infrastructure."

See also:

Börje Ekholm opens Ericsson Mobile World Congress 2025

MWC 2025 Ericsson Executive Team Q&A: Fredrik Jejdling

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