Catenaa, Sunday, March 08, 2026- Ericsson has extended its partnership with Intel to jointly develop AI-native 6G solutions, focusing on programmable networks with integrated compute and real-time sensing.
The company said the approach aims to support more efficient and responsive services while enabling networks to handle emerging AI workloads, including agentic and physical AI applications.
Cecilia Atterwall, Ericsson’s head of group marketing, explained that future AI traffic will require more uplink capacity and strategic placement of computing resources across the network, from centralized cores to edge locations.
This evolution is intended to accommodate both traditional applications and AI-driven processes in industries such as AR, VR, and robotics.
Ericsson emphasized that 6G represents a smooth progression from 5G, building on existing standalone cores, AI-enabled network management, and autonomous features.
The company plans to integrate AI readiness into hardware and software products while gradually deploying new radio access technologies and spectrum bands, including centimeter-wave frequencies.
The firm noted that commercial adoption will vary by market, with Europe facing slower monetization compared with regions like the US, China, and India.
Ericsson said its strategy allows operators to unlock value incrementally while making phased investments.
Currently, 65 commercial deployments and city-level connectivity offerings illustrate the company’s ongoing commitment to a measured, evolution-driven 6G rollout.
