Far EasTone and Ericsson launch Taiwan’s First 5G Core Lab for Standalone 5G
- Far EasTone (FET) and Ericsson have launched Taiwan’s first 5G Core Lab to kick off network evolution toward 5G Standalone (SA)
- The first data call in the lab set a critical milestone for 5G SA connectivity in Taiwan
- With 5G SA powered by Ericsson’s fully cloud-native core, FET will deliver innovative 5G applications for consumers and enterprises

Far EasTone (FET) in partnership with Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has launched Taiwan’s first 5G Core Lab to kick-start the evolution to 5G standalone (SA) networks. The completion of the first SA data call in the lab was an important milestone in the advancement of 5G, following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two companies to advance the networks for the future. It is a significant step forward in FET’s multi-phased plan to deploy 5G SA.
The ultimate purpose of FET’s 5G Core Lab is to transform FET’s live 5G network, which is currently non-standalone (NSA), into SA mode with the full cloud-native, dual-mode 5G core supplied by Ericsson. It will enable FET to unlock the full potential of 5G – including fastest connectivity, highest data rates, ultra-low latency, massive machine-type communications. With a future-proof network architecture, the 5G core creates a platform for business innovation that allows FET to introduce new exposure, edge, slicing and automation capabilities, offering benefits like enhanced subscriber experience, simplified operations, and service agility.
With the introduction of 5G SA, FET, who have been operating Taiwan’s fastest 5G NSA network since the last quarter of 2020, will be able to launch cutting-edge use cases across consumer and enterprises sectors. This may include but not limited to consumer real-time immersive entertainment experiences (AR/VR), cloud gaming, Industry 4.0 realizations in smart manufacturing, smart healthcare, remote surgery, V2X and intelligent transportation system, smart city applications and critical internet of things (IoT) connections, and more.
The 5G Core Lab supports both 5G SA and NSA dual mode, as well as serving as a platform for innovative use cases trial, to accelerate the commercialization of new 5G services. The Lab will allow both local and international partners connect to the networks for end-to-end integrations, creating a playground for the local ecosystem to innovate together and enable a wide range of applications across industries. Powered by 5G SA capabilities, advanced network functionality such as network slicing, edge computing, private networks and FWA will be key enablers to drive the network evolution.
Chee Ching, President of Far EasTone, says: “Far EasTone has been the leading operator which continuously provides the best 5G network experience in Taiwan with heavy investment in 5G technologies, applications and network build-out. We are thrilled to establish the very first 5G Core Lab in Taiwan with Ericsson to kick start the 5G SA trial. Together we have demonstrated our technology leadership and great synergy between the two companies with the first data call in the lab. We will continue our commitment to develop 5G public and private networks with customized network architecture. Through the collaboration with the partners in the ecosystem, we will be able to foster the development of 5G-enabled industries and offer premium 5G applications and user experience.”
Chafic Nassif, President of Ericsson Taiwan, says: “We believe 5G is a game changer. Together we have proven our technology leadership with FET by providing users across consumer and enterprise sectors with the best possible 5G network experiences in Taiwan. The transition to Standalone 5G is an important milestone in the advancement of 5G. We are pleased to take another step toward 5G SA deployment to support FET in unleashing the full capabilities of 5G and enable the enormous business possibilities of a mobile-driven future.”
Extensive Reading:
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