SKT Ericsson 6G collaboration took a formal shape on March 19, 2026, as SK Telecom and Ericsson signed an agreement to conduct joint research and trials on 5G and 6G technologies through March 2, 2031.
The agreement covers several technical areas. These include AI-powered radio access networks (RAN), open and autonomous networks, end-to-end security, 6G standardisation, and integrated sensing and communication.
SKT Ericsson 6G Framework and Research Goals
Yu Takki, head of SKT’s Network Technology Office, said the partnership targets global standardisation and real-world validation. “We aim to secure technological leadership in AI-powered network evolution and 6G,” Takki said.
Marten Lerner, head of Networks Strategy and Product Management at Ericsson, said the collaboration will accelerate AI-powered RAN, 5G monetisation, open autonomous networks, and zero-trust security. Lerner added the work will also lay the groundwork for AI-native 6G development.
“Together we’ll move rapidly from standards and trials to commercial solutions that boost performance, energy efficiency and security.”
Marten Lerner, Head of Networks Strategy and Product Management, Ericsson
SoftBank and AGC Simplify Antenna Design for 6G
In a separate development, SoftBank Corp and AGC worked together to simplify base station antenna configurations and reduce power consumption for future 6G networks. The two companies said the simplified design uses one-eighth or fewer antenna elements compared with conventional systems for vertical beam shaping.
The reduced number of antenna elements lowers the count of control integrated circuits and related components. As a result, power usage drops by up to one-eighth compared with traditional configurations.
Field Tests Confirm Coverage and Quality
Outdoor field tests confirmed that the functional beam shaping lens antenna maintains communication coverage and quality consistent with conventional Massive MIMO antennas. The antenna combines SoftBank’s communication area and antenna beam design with AGC’s meta-surface lens technology.
The results suggest the simplified antenna design could reduce energy demands at base stations without sacrificing network performance. This is a key consideration as operators plan infrastructure for next-generation telecommunications networks.
Industry Context: AI and Efficiency in Next-Generation Networks
Both developments reflect a broader industry push to integrate artificial intelligence and energy efficiency into the design of future mobile networks. Operators and vendors are working to reduce operational costs while meeting the higher performance demands expected of 6G.
The SKT-Ericsson agreement runs until 2031, aligning with the expected timeline for early 6G commercial deployments. Meanwhile, the SoftBank-AGC antenna work addresses one of the most significant cost and energy challenges in dense network deployments. Security and autonomous network management also remain central themes across both partnerships.