Ericsson has reaffirmed its commitment to its UK research centre which is working on 6G and next-gen network technologies.
Established in 2022, the centre is researching multi-transmission reception point, (integrated sensing, cognitive networks, 6G deployment, energy efficiency, resilience, and network security. These areas are considered fundamental to future network infrastructure.
At the time of the centre’s launch Ericsson said:”Tens of millions of pounds will be invested by Ericsson over the next 10 years in a UK-based program that will focus on 6G research and breakthrough innovations.
Research areas will include network resilience and security, artificial intelligence, cognitive networks and energy efficiency – all considered to be key building blocks of the world’s future digital infrastructure for society, industries and consumers.
The research programme involves collaboration with UK universities, PhD students, communications service providers, and industry partners. It aims to support early-stage innovation and feed into future product development and international standards, including those under the 3GPP framework.
Ericsson has been involved in UK government-backed 6G projects such as REASON, a live initiative, and the recently concluded TUDOR project. The company says these efforts are helping shape global technology direction and positioning the UK as a contributor to emerging communications standards.
The UK government’s recently published Digital and Technologies Sector Plan has earmarked £370 million for advanced connectivity technologies, part of a broader ambition to promote frontier technologies and support economic growth. Ericsson’s research activity aligns with this plan, with the company positioning itself as a contributor to the UK’s innovation ecosystem.
Ericsson’s research teams in the UK say they will continue to work closely with mobile operators and academic institutions as 6G technologies evolve throughout the decade.
6G is not expected to roll out until the 2030s, and is anticipated to enable applications such as extended reality, autonomous systems, smart agriculture, and precision healthcare,
Ericsson has operated in the UK telecoms sector for over 100 years and says its latest investments support the government’s ambition to lead in advanced communications technology development and global standard-setting.
