Ericsson is advancing network slicing, artificial intelligence (AI) automation, and strategic partnerships to drive new digital services. As connectivity evolves, the company is also addressing ethical concerns such as data privacy and AI bias.
In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review during MWC Barcelona 2025, Erik Ekudden, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, and Head of Group Function Technology, Ericsson, elucidated the company’s role in ensuring how effective 5G connectivity lies at the core of enterprise and government digitalization.
According to Ericsson’s Mobility Report, global 5G subscriptions are projected to reach USD 5.6 billion by the end of 2029. What new 5G capabilities, or use cases, does Ericsson plan to prioritize in 2025 to further drive 5G adoption and value for enterprises and consumers?
Well, 2025 is a great year here at Mobile World Congress and globally, as we are driving and showcasing the next wave of mobile innovation alongside over 100 partners. This innovation is transforming experiences for consumers, but more importantly, it is transforming experiences for enterprises and businesses.
We have lots of consumer cases; however, more crucially, we also boast enterprise and business cases. For example, manufacturers like Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) are using 5G to connect tools, optimize processes, and enable precise indoor positioning, all while consuming these services through network application programming interfaces (APIs). Similar advancements are underway in the healthcare sector, with complete solutions for asset tracking, authorization, and access management, as well as in first responder operations.
These are just a few examples of how 5G is now at the core of enterprise and government digitalization.
Network slicing and AI automation have been highlighted as game-changers for 5G. How is Ericsson advancing these technologies to meet the diverse needs of industries?
It’s all about how enterprises use this as a business transformation tool. Network slices have always existed, but now they can be dynamically deployed on demand, enabling flexible, end-to-end implementation wherever needed. The Ericsson X20 fixed wireless access (FWA) CPU router for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) not only integrates 5G with network slicing but also a comprehensive security solution and a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, ensuring end-to-end security.
This applies to many use cases, where security, network slicing, guaranteed bandwidth, uplink and downlink performance, and latency are seamlessly integrated. It then becomes part of the business flow, for example, when SMEs connect their workers and 5G laptops. In these cases, it evolves into an embedded technology in a business solution.
Ericsson has emphasized partnerships, such as its global API venture with major carriers. How do you see these collaborations evolving in 2025 to unlock new digital services and revenue streams?
The industry is now converging around network capabilities—whether these capabilities be bandwidth, on-demand access, latency, authentication, security functions, positioning, and more. While these capabilities have been available in networks for some time, they haven’t been consistently presented to developers or applications. Over the past month, we’ve worked with operator partners, culminating in the recently announced Aduna venture, which is now making great progress worldwide. In regions with advanced networks, operators are collaborating.
Take the U.S., for example, where Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are all part of the Aduna venture. Similar developments are happening in India and other parts of the world. This initiative is attracting more operators to join the aggregation platform, where network capabilities are exposed via standardized network APIs defined by the CAMARA initiative and made available to developer platforms in a consistent way. Platforms like Ericsson’s Vonage platform, Google, Infobip, and others—forming an open ecosystem—can attract developers by offering uniform network connectivity worldwide.
By 2025, I expect this platform to expand globally, with more operators joining. But perhaps even more importantly, we’ll start seeing the first developers and use cases leveraging it. This is already happening in banking and finance, where fraud prevention and authentication services ensure secure transactions. When combined with quality-on-demand capabilities, secure transactions remain reliable even in congested network conditions. The real momentum lies in integrating multiple network capabilities through APIs.
Our MWC booth showcases how we’re working with Sony, a well-known brand in professional high-definition (HD) cameras. Their FX6 camera, widely used by reporters worldwide, now comes equipped with 5G. This removes the need for satellite trucks, cabling, or dish antennas—everything works out of the box. Through network APIs, they can dynamically request higher-performance uplinks to their cloud-based services, ensuring the 30–50 Mbps uplink required for high-quality video feeds.
These are just a few examples of how network APIs will become strong businesses in 2025.
As digital transformation accelerates, how is Ericsson working to ensure that its connectivity solutions address ethical concerns, such as data privacy, AI bias, and security?
I think governments are taking different routes here, but the common denominator is that networks, as critical infrastructure, require guardrails for what you do for in-country operations and global activities. Enterprises also have their own security and privacy requirements.
As an industry, we have a responsibility to take these requirements seriously, and we are well-positioned to do so, whether in local networks serving enterprises, government sectors, or nationally critical infrastructure like public safety. These systems not only follow interoperable open standards but also incorporate security architectures that ensure security and privacy-by-design.
At Ericsson, we have a framework that guarantees secure, reliable connectivity while addressing privacy and ethical concerns. Both for Ericsson and the industry as a whole, this is a crucial area, and is also the one that will continue to grow as networks become an integral part of societal critical infrastructure.
As CTO, what emerging technology outside of traditional telecom do you see intersecting with Ericsson’s connectivity goals through 2025?
I think it's an interesting reflection of how the industry is evolving. We're showcasing many business use cases, demonstrating how industries are coming together. They are digitalizing based on a common 5G platform. Of course, it's not just 5G; it’s also AI and resilient cloud infrastructure. But when these three domains come together, that's when you can see the real change happening.
On the network side, the focus is on advanced connectivity, slicing, edge computing, and innovations that enhance user experience while reducing energy consumption. These advancements are driving networks toward ubiquitous connectivity. On the AI side, we're progressing from early-gen AI to AI robotics and AI agents. This transformation not only redefines our industry but also helps other industries digitalize.
These developments are closely tied to our industry's core growth, integrating into the digital platform. Looking further ahead, robotics, and even quantum computing, are exciting frontiers. Over the coming years, we will witness phenomenal innovation, not just in telecom but also in adjacent industries, ultimately enhancing the digital platform as the foundation.
The next 10 to 20 years will be exciting, with breakthroughs not only in technology but also in business models and real-world use cases. As we see here, these innovations are becoming reality in enterprise and government environments, which is truly exciting.
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