Ericsson and China Mobile launch 5G collaboration

• Ericsson and China Mobile Research Institute (CMRI) sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on 5G research and development
• Agreement will help drive innovation and early application of 5G mobile network technology
• China Mobile the world’s largest mobile operator by number of subscribers

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and China Mobile Research Institute (CMRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on 5G research and development. The agreement will help drive innovation and early application of 5G mobile network technology.

China Mobile, the world’s largest mobile operator by number of subscribers, is accelerating investments in both 4G LTE rollouts and 5G initiatives. Under the terms of the MoU, which will initially cover a five-year period, Ericsson and China Mobile will cooperate in the following areas:

• 5G radio technology: verification, trial and standardization of a new 5G Air Interface for commercial deployment from 2020
• Architecture evolution towards 5G: including close interworking between 5G and the evolution of LTE, as well as innovative RAN features to support future industrial use cases
• Internet of Things (IoT): demonstration, verification and trial of narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) for massive machine-type communication, as well as collaboration on corresponding vertical use cases
• Joint research and standardization efforts toward global alignment on 5G
• Global knowledge- and experience-sharing by Ericsson

Yuhong Huang, Deputy Head, China Mobile Research Institute (CMRI), says: “China Mobile officially deployed 4G at the end of 2013, and 4G+ is now officially launched. We aim to improve network performance, which has provided 300 million customers with excellent user experiences, and which is the key driver for China’s Internet+ strategy.”

“The Internet+ strategy is intensifying, and momentum is growing in China in relation to transformation and upgrade of traditional industrial lines and business models, by leveraging the most advanced information and communication technologies. As the next generation of mobile infrastructure, 5G is the key pillar for ICT development globally. We feel that closer and more active cooperation between Ericsson and China Mobile will foster tangible results in 5G by helping to drive standardization, research and development, and creating an integrated, cross-industry ecosystem.”

Chris Houghton, Head of Region North East Asia, Ericsson, says: “With commercial implementation expected from 2020, Ericsson’s 5G research is coming out of the labs and into live test networks, both in our headquarters in Sweden and in collaboration with our operator partners in Northeast Asia, North America and Latin America.

The MoU between Ericsson and China Mobile was signed on December 21 in Beijing, China.

Ericsson is leading and driving 5G standards work – from exploratory research and pre-standard field trials, through to standardization activities together with global standards bodies and industry groups. Through key technology advances like the Ericsson 5G Radio Prototypes that include advanced antenna design, multi-user MIMO and beamforming, Ericsson and its operator customers will be key players in defining the next generation of mobile network technology all the way to commercialization.