Ericsson and Telia Sweden have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to accelerate the development of 6G technology and position Sweden as a European leader in next-generation mobile connectivity. The agreement was announced at Ericsson’s Stockholm headquarters, where the companies also demonstrated early 6G capabilities in the upper 6 GHz frequency band. The collaboration is particularly relevant for Europe’s telecom and semiconductor industries as work on 6G gathers pace, opening opportunities in advanced radio technology, AI-driven networks and spectrum utilization. It also highlights how operators and equipment suppliers are preparing for 6G while continuing to invest in 5G infrastructure. Building on 5G to advance 6G Under the agreement, Ericsson and Telia will collaborate on 6G trials, demonstrations and potential use cases, building on existing 5G Standalone and 5G Advanced technologies. The partnership will focus on network security, resilience, coverage, performance and energy efficiency, alongside AI-based automation and network APIs. The companies also plan to work with universities, startups, industry partners and public-sector organizations to support research, standardization and spectrum policy. Sweden’s Digital Arena Sweden initiative could provide a platform for future testing and innovation. “Our investments in robust, secure and comprehensive 5G networks serve as a natural stepping-stone towards the next generation of connectivity: 6G. We are now bringing together industry, academia and the public sector to ensure Sweden takes a leading role in 6G development, based on the needs of society and businesses, and to contribute to a more secure and competitive Sweden,” said Anders Olsson, Head of Telia Sweden. Early 6G demonstrations target AI and sensing During the event, Ericsson and Telia conducted one of the Nordic region’s first over-the-air demonstrations of pre-standard 6G technology using the upper 6 GHz band. The demonstration highlighted the potential of this spectrum to deliver wider channels, higher network capacity and improved uplink performance, particularly for AI-enabled applications and real-time video services. A second demonstration showcased Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), a technology being explored for 6G networks. Using modified 5G radio equipment, the system detected and tracked drones, generating real-time information about their location, speed and elevation. The technology could enable future mobile networks to combine communications with environmental sensing capabilities. Decades of mobile network collaboration The 6G agreement extends a partnership spanning more than four decades, from the launch of an early automated Nordic mobile network in 1981 to Sweden’s first large-scale public 5G network in 2020. The companies also collaborated on GSM, 3G and the world’s first commercial 4G network, launched in Stockholm in 2009. “Sweden and the Nordic region have a proud tradition of being early adopters of mobility. Today’s announcement indicates our companies’ intention to continue that tradition. We look forward to working closely with Telia on the path to 6G,” said Patrick Johansson, Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Ericsson. The post Ericsson and Telia team up to put Sweden at forefront of 6G appeared first on eeNews Europe .