YOU ARE AT:5GTelefonica, Ericsson sign 5G agreement

Telefonica, Ericsson sign 5G agreement

Deal includes development of 5G technologies and products

Swedish vendor Ericsson and Spain-based telecom group Telefónica signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of “5G” technologies, products and services.

The two companies said they will jointly support ongoing and new initiatives designed to boost the development of next-generation mobile technologies and the entrepreneurial environment in which they can evolve, with specific focus on the 5G PPP and ETP Networld 2020 programs, both promoted by the European Commission within the Horizon 2020 program.

The Spanish telco created a 5G laboratory through its innovation unit, Telefónica I+D and IMDEA Networks Institute in Spain. The laboratory is designed to create an open ecosystem for innovation and research. Ericsson is the first manufacturer to join the initiative as part of its 5G for Europe program.

“5G is an evolution journey, and the transition will be gradual with deployment of complete, commercial 5G systems not expected until 2020. To achieve the expected capabilities of 5G, investments in joint research and trialling of 5G technologies must continue,” said Ericsson CTO Ulf Ewaldsson.

“Telefonica continues advancing its role as a key player in the development of 5G technologies, where we have been actively contributing to relevant international projects, industry associations and standardization bodies,” added Telefonica CTO Enrique Blanco. “Through this agreement, and initiatives like 5TONIC laboratory in Spain, we will be able to trial and prioritize network functions and services that will become part of the 5G networks in the near future.”

Under the terms of the partnership, Telefonica and Ericsson will carry out joint initiatives including research, debate, field-testing, and demonstrations of technology and equipment to support eventual 5G network architecture, communications, services and applications.

ABOUT AUTHOR

Juan Pedro Tomás
Juan Pedro Tomás
Juan Pedro covers Global Carriers and Global Enterprise IoT. Prior to RCR, Juan Pedro worked for Business News Americas, covering telecoms and IT news in the Latin American markets. He also worked for Telecompaper as their Regional Editor for Latin America and Asia/Pacific. Juan Pedro has also contributed to Latin Trade magazine as the publication's correspondent in Argentina and with political risk consultancy firm Exclusive Analysis, writing reports and providing political and economic information from certain Latin American markets. He has a degree in International Relations and a master in Journalism and is married with two kids.