Standardization is a framework of agreements for an industry to ensure the creation of well-performing systems, products, and services in accordance with set requirements. And they’re used across a variety of industries, touching almost every part of our daily lives. For example, food safety standards help prevent food from being contaminated or otherwise unsafe to eat. IT security standards help keep sensitive information secure.
Standardization creates tremendous value – and keeps us all connected
In the telecommunications field, standardization represents a collaborative process that is different from research and development (R&D) in most other fields, where companies and institutions keep all their technology protected and proprietary.
Telecom companies like Ericsson bring their best insight and inventions to the table during the standardization process, investing billions of dollars into R&D. And they rely on patent licensing to get fair and reasonable compensation that, in turn, funds the next generation of telecom standards, accelerating the pace of development and creating a virtuous cycle of innovation. It’s how we’ve gotten from 1G to 5G in such a short time.
The standardization process enables collaboration throughout the telecoms field as a whole. It allows the best ideas to surface and makes it possible for the technologies we depend on every day to exist and work together. It’s why all our phones can talk to each other, instead of just to other handsets made by the same company. And without cellular and connectivity standards, an iPhone would just be an MP3 player. You wouldn’t be able to download a song to your smart speaker, or stream a football game on your phone, without standards. Standard development has unlocked that value.
Ericsson’s leadership in standardization
From 2G to 5G and beyond, Ericsson has been at the forefront of developing standards that meet the needs of consumers, various industries, and society as a whole. When it comes to bringing new generations to life, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes. For instance, Ericsson’s researchers had a vision of what 5G could become as far back in 2010 and 2011, working for years to bring that to fruition along with other industry experts. And our teams have been investing in 6G for several years.
Ericsson’s global collaborations with others have been crucial in developing standards. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a consortium comprised of a number of standards organizations which work together to develop protocols for the mobile telecommunications industry. While hundreds of organizations participate, only 10 companies – of which Ericsson is one – have accounted for over 70% of the technical inputs to the standard between 2001 and 2020. Ericsson has submitted over 80,000 technical contributions to 3GPP, thousands more than any other company.
For the good of society, the cycle of innovation must be protected
The pace of innovation, particularly when it comes to cellular technology, has somewhat opened the eyes of government officials regarding the importance of standards. But the system that drives that accelerated cycle must be protected. Any weakening of the patent system and denial of fair and reasonable royalties to inventors could break the cycle, disincentivizing companies from participating in standardization. This could lead to a system of siloed, proprietary technology and stagnated innovation.
Thanks to open mobile standards, people around the world can work smarter, connect easily, and enjoy reliable, cutting-edge technology. We’re honored to play a role in shaping the standards that allow us to continue innovating as we now invest in 6G and beyond.