Ericsson unveils future-life scenarios for Japan in 2035 powered by AI and connectivity

Ericsson Japan K.K. (“Ericsson Japan”) today announced four future-life scenarios envisioning Japanese society around 2035 as an outcome of “Enter New Horizons” (*1), an initiative launched in Japan to mark the 150^th anniversary of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC). The scenarios explore how AI and connectivity can open new possibilities for Japan. They are being showcased at the Ericsson Forum 2026, taking place from September 28 to 30, 2026, and are also available on Ericsson’s official website and social media channels.

“Enter New Horizons” explores, through dialogue with a diverse range of stakeholders, what possibilities connectivity can open up to Japanese society and industry in the AI era. The scenarios originated from a workshop involving Ericsson Japan employees and students from the University of Tokyo, and were further developed through input from University of Tokyo experts and dialogue with companies and local governments. The four scenarios are not intended as predictions of the future, but as a set of questions designed to encourage broader dialogue about the possibilities of connectivity and AI.

The expanding role of mobile networks in the AI era

Japan’s demographic shifts are creating workforce constraints across a wide range of areas, including the transfer of skills in manufacturing, mobility and logistics, maintenance of social infrastructure, and regional services. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Analysis of the Labour Economy 2025, if economic growth and labor force participation fail to improve, the number of employed people in 2040 is projected to decline by approximately 10 million from 2022 levels.

AI and Physical AI, along with the connectivity needed to operate them safely and at scale, will play an increasingly important role in addressing these challenges. As AI moves into the physical world through robots, autonomous vehicles, drones and industrial machinery, high-performing and reliable connectivity becomes essential. As mobile networks evolve from 5G Standalone (5G SA) toward 6G, their role will expand beyond connecting people and things. By working in concert with AI, cloud and compute, mobile networks will evolve into a foundation for digital society — an “intelligent fabric” — that supports AI and Physical AI.

The four future scenarios are summarized below.

1. Manufacturing

“Ultra-rich” data — including the skills and intuition of Japanese craftspeople and real-time consumer needs — flows across global value chains, enabling advanced manufacturing and new value creation.

2. Infrastructure and Energy

Drones and sensing technologies help protect social infrastructure, while network connectivity from the air can help maintain the continuity of services that support society and everyday life during disasters.

3. Mobility

The movement of people and goods is optimized across communities, improving both safety and convenience. People can travel where they want to go and more easily access the goods and services they need.

4. Regional Sustainability

Even as Japan’s demographic structure changes, people and AI work together to support a high quality of life and fulfilling ways of working, while regional industries and cultures are carried forward to future generations.

The full future scenarios and a special video featuring dialogues between Ericsson executives and employees and representatives of companies and local governments relevant to each theme are available on Ericsson’s official website and YouTube channel.

• Enter New Horizons special website (available in Japanese only)
• Ericsson’s YouTube Channel

From 150 years of communications innovation to the next horizon of the AI era

Since its founding in 1876, Ericsson has advanced communications technology for 150 years and contributed to the development of mobile networks around the world. In Japan, Ericsson has worked alongside customers and partners for 41 years since establishing its representative office in 1985, contributing to the development of the country’s digital society. “Enter New Horizons” uses this milestone as an opportunity to consider the next role that connectivity will play in the AI era.

Chafic Nassif, President of Ericsson Northeast Asia, says:
“It is a great honor to mark Ericsson’s 150th anniversary together with people across Japan. AI is now moving beyond the digital world into the physical world, as robots and autonomous systems begin to be deployed across society. If AI is the ‘brain’ and robots are the ‘limbs,’ mobile networks are the ‘nervous system’ that connects them and enables Physical AI to operate safely and at scale.”

“For 41 years in Japan, Ericsson has worked alongside customers and partners to advance mobile networks. We will continue to be part of Japanese society, supporting the connectivity required for the AI era and working together with people across Japan to address the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

On the occasion of Ericsson’s 150^th anniversary, partner companies in Japan have also shared congratulatory messages.

Yoshiaki Maeda, President and CEO, NTT DOCOMO, INC., says:
“My heartfelt congratulations to Ericsson on its 150th anniversary. I have deep respect for Ericsson’s journey of connecting people, things and society and creating new value through high-performance, highly reliable connectivity that supports the digital society. This vision resonates with DOCOMO’s philosophy of ‘realizing a prosperous society through the power to connect.’ Going forward, we hope to continue expanding the possibilities for people and society together through co-creation.”

Kazuyuki Yoshimura, Senior Managing Executive Officer, CTO, KDDI CORPORATION, says:
“My heartfelt congratulations to Ericsson on its 150th anniversary. Together, KDDI and Ericsson have built high-quality, resilient communications infrastructure that is recognized globally. As we work toward the evolution envisioned in the future scenario co-creation project — toward social infrastructure that supports people’s daily lives and industries through the convergence of communications and AI — we look forward to continuing to create new value together with Ericsson and contributing to the sustainable development of Japan’s industry and society.”

Junichi Miyakawa, President & CEO, SoftBank Corp., says:
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ericsson on its 150th anniversary. We pay our deepest respects to your long-standing history of driving innovation in telecommunications technology and supporting the development of society and industry. Under our growth strategy, 'Activate AI for Society,' SoftBank Corp. is accelerating the social implementation of AI. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Ericsson, aiming for the sustainable development of Japan through the capabilities of telecommunications and AI, and to pioneer a new future through technology.”

Ericsson Japan will use the future scenarios presented through “Enter New Horizons” as a starting point to further broaden dialogue with customers, partners, academic institutions, local governments and other stakeholders, and to contribute to the sustainable development of Japanese society and industry through connectivity for the AI era.