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T-Mo taps Ericsson for 5G, to the tune of $3.5B

by Kelly Hill
written by Kelly Hill Share
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Ericsson 5G rooftop installation (Image: Ericsson)

T-Mobile US deal follows $3.5 billion Nokia agreement in July

T-Mobile US has signed a $3.5 billion, multi-year contract with Ericsson for 5G network deployment. This is the second of T-Mobile US’ major 5G contracts, following a $3.5 billion agreement with Nokia in July.

Ericsson will provide 3GPP-compliant 5G New Radio hardware and software for support across all the carrier’s spectrum bands, according T-Mobile US, which says it will leverage Ericsson’s 5G solutions “to expand existing LTE capacity needs while future-proofing the network.” T-Mobile noted that its installed base of Ericsson Radio System equipment is upgradable to 5G NR with a remote software installation. The contract also includes Ericsson’s digital services such as business support systems, dynamic orchestration and its cloud core.

“While the other guys just make promises, we’re putting our money where our mouth is. With this new Ericsson agreement we’re laying the groundwork for 5G – and with Sprint we can supercharge the 5G revolution,” said T-Mobile US CTO Neville Ray in a statement.

T-Mobile US executives have framed the proposed merger with a Sprint as a way to facilitate 5G development, arguing that neither company can afford the necessary 5G network investments on its own, but together, they’ll be in a position (both in terms of spectrum and cash flow) to put up a strong, nationwide network.

Ray also noted in a tweet that T-Mobile US, Ericsson and Intel recently completed a multi-vendor 5G data call.

 

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Kelly Hill reports on network test and measurement, AI infrastructure and regulatory issues, including spectrum, for RCR Wireless News. She began covering the wireless industry in 2005, focusing on carriers and MVNOs, then took a few years’ hiatus and returned to RCR Wireless News to write about heterogeneous networks (remember those?) and network infrastructure. Kelly is an Ohio native with a masters degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, where she focused on science writing and multimedia. She has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, The Oregonian and The Canton Repository. She lives in northern Virginia, not far from Data Center Alley.

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