Telecom companies from around the world have taken advantage of the recently held Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, Spain, to unveil key advancements in communications technology. Leading provider Ericsson, in particular, has revealed several initiatives and collaborations aimed at enhancing 5G, 6G, AI technologies, and the overall telecommunications landscape worldwide.
A significant development involved Aduna, a joint venture between major telecom operators and Ericsson. They announced a strategic partnership with Canada's EnStream to expand its network API ecosystem. This collaboration aims to provide access to network APIs from Canada’s telecom giants Bell, Rogers, and Telus, which will allow developers to create and scale digital services efficiently. This strategic move underscores Aduna's commitment to enhancing its presence in North America as a major player in the network API market, as noted by Ericsson on February 27.
Another announcement related to Aduna came on March 1, when it partnered with Bridge Alliance to promote the adoption of network APIs. This agreement enables enterprise customers of Bridge Alliance to access Aduna’s API ecosystem, supporting a wide range of critical global standardisation efforts intended to facilitate digital service development.
Ericsson also expanded its collaboration with Japan's SoftBank to leverage AI technologies in Radio Access Network (RAN) integration. Following successful implementations, the two companies have agreed to extend their research to incorporate offloading RAN functions to NVIDIA's GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip, a move that seeks to enhance mobile networks and robotics. Hideyuki Tsukuda, Executive Vice President and CTO at SoftBank, remarked that this partnership marks an important evolution in AI-RAN technology.
In other areas of innovation, UK-based mobile virtual network operator giffgaff migrated its mediation systems to Amazon Web Services (AWS), a strategic transition expected to improve network performance and operational efficiency. Ericsson announced this development on March 3, highlighting the benefits of cloud-native telecom applications.
Additionally, Ericsson successfully conducted its first Cloud RAN call in laboratory settings using the latest generation of Intel Xeon 6 System on a Chip (SoC), showcasing the potential for enhanced processing and throughput in Cloud RAN deployments. Cristina Rodriguez, Vice President and General Manager of the Communications Solutions Group at Intel, noted that this technology redefines performance standards in the industry.
On the railway communication front, Ericsson and Qualcomm have conducted a successful test of a 5G modem on the n101 band, which focuses on future railway communications in Europe. This marks a significant step toward utilising 5G for enhanced connectivity within the rail sector, as the industry transitions away from older systems by 2030.
In Germany, O2 Telefonica has launched its first Cloud RAN network using Ericsson technology, marking a considerable milestone in the commercialisation of Cloud RAN in a 5G standalone environment. This innovation aims to provide a more flexible network infrastructure, which could significantly benefit businesses and consumers.
Furthermore, in a landmark move, Malaysia's Digital Nasional Berhad has implemented Ericsson’s Enterprise Virtual Cellular Network (EVCN) at its headquarters, making it the first organisation worldwide to establish a 5G-centric workspace. This development is anticipated to transform enterprise IT infrastructure significantly.
Ericsson has also partnered with Zain Bahrain to enhance the latter's 4G and 5G networks, extending their Managed Services collaboration to boost network efficiency. This initiative will support improvements in network capacity and user experience.
In the United States, Ericsson has launched XR trials in partnership with T-Mobile and Qualcomm, focusing on validating the capabilities of augmented reality applications over 5G networks. This trial is expected to advance user experiences significantly within immersive technologies.
On another front, Ericsson and Turkcell have entered a memorandum of understanding to explore the integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence into Turkcell's network operations, targeting improved efficiency and enhanced user experiences.
The event has also marked the entry of new partnerships, with Aduna collaborating with telecom operators in France, while Ericsson continues its initiative to enhance 5G networks in Indonesia and New Zealand, among others.
As these collaborations manifest in real-world applications, they are set to transform the telecommunications landscape, enabling a plethora of digital innovations and more robust network architectures. Each initiative, from cloud migration to AI integration, reflects the industry's commitment to evolving and enhancing connectivity across diverse environments.
Source: Noah Wire Services