It can be easy to think of Austin when it comes to more tech-driven industries in Texas but Ericsson is continuing to make plenty of progress in Plano. The Ericsson Village, home to the U.S. headquarters of the Swedish telecom giant, is one of several campuses connected to its end-to-end 5G network along with its research center, Richardson Labs.
One of the main goals of the network is to provide the vendor with a way to analyze functions, experiment with capabilities, and solve problems that will occur in the real world. This allows Ericsson to create solutions to overcome such obstacles while showcasing the capabilities of an end-to-end 5G network. “We’re running real-world experiments and use cases to solve problems today that the industry will encounter tomorrow, such as end-to-end network slicing,” said the Head of Networks for Ericsson North America, Kevin Zvokel.
A key emphasis here is on network slicing which is going to play a large role in how 5G operates. By using network slicing, providers not only deliver a smoother experience with more data but it will also provide the framework for additional functions that can be delivered by companies. 5G is bringing much more than faster data plans to your next smartphone. It will assist in revolutionizing industries and the way we interact through innovative functions such as supporting the Internet of Things (IoT) and virtual reality (VR).
These functions and more are put under the actual pressures a real 5G network will face because the experiments are being conducted on a real, functioning network. This provides not only a realistic platform to work with but eliminates all of the risks involved with encountering such issues in the real world. Some carriers have already seen coverage issues on their network and the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt organizations’ abilities to conduct accurate testing.
This is not the first time that Ericsson is making news for providing 5G with tools to move forward. Ericsson has collaborated with Verizon and even Qualcomm this year. The move is a welcomed one for the United States who is still waiting for more U.S.-based companies to step up and supply more 5G components. After many back and forth political and economic jabs, the United States has also banned major telecom giant Huawei from working on its 5G infrastructure due to security threats it feels that may bring. Ericsson’s continued innovation is putting the company and the future of 5G in America as a whole in a better position.
Source: RCR Wireless