Ericsson announced a partnership with Japan’s SoftBank Corp. This deal includes products and solutions for 4G and 5G networks. Ericsson will assist in improving SoftBank’s networks in several regions, including Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Hokuriku, Tokai, and parts of Kansai.
SoftBank will upgrade its 4G and 5G networks using Ericsson’s radio technology. The agreement covers different frequency bands, low, mid, and high. Ericsson will also help SoftBank to expand its 5G Standalone coverage and improve operations with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
Hideyuki Tsukuda, who is the Executive Vice President and CTO at SoftBank Corp., stated, “SoftBank will focus on improving the network with special attention on 5G Standalone and using AI to give a better experience to our customers in Japan. We believe that using Ericsson’s advanced technology will help us improve the quality of our network and make it more efficient.”
Chafic Nassif, Head of Market Area North East Asia at Ericsson, said, “SoftBank has always been a leader in connectivity. As digital services grow, Ericsson will work closely with SoftBank to help them lead the digital market. We aim to make user experiences better with the help of AI and automation. This will also help Japan grow its digital economy.”
Regarding the products that Ericsson will provide, they will give SoftBank the latest radio access network (RAN) products. One of these is the lightweight Massive MIMO, which is easier to install and can save up to 35 percent more energy than older models.
They will also supply an energy-efficient, high-capacity ultra-wideband product. Additionally, Ericsson will provide next-generation RAN Compute (basebands) that are optimized for real-time AI use.
