Telstra and Ericsson signed a letter of intent to collaborate on 6G AI-native architecture research and trials, focusing on developing the next-generation mobile technology. The agreement marks a significant step in advancing 6G capabilities across multiple geographic regions.
As part of the partnership, both companies will focus on standards development, including work tied to 3GPP evolution and access to Ericsson’s 6G testbed facilities in Sweden. Telstra engineers will test emerging 6G technologies at Ericsson’s Swedish research site, while Ericsson’s teams will operate from Telstra’s Innovation Centre on Australia’s Gold Coast to assess 6G performance across different geographic environments.
Connected Future Strategy and Long-Term Development
The collaboration supports Telstra’s Connected Future 30 strategy, which centers on long-term network development and supporting an AI-driven future. According to Telstra Group executive of global networks and technology, Shailin Sehgal, the deal aims to build the technology momentum that will underpin 6G. He described the next-generation network as the first generation which is AI-native, adding it will be the most intelligent network yet.
Future Capabilities and Use Cases
Sehgal pointed to future capabilities including environmental sensing and Network as a Product applications. Potential use cases span public safety, agriculture and weather detection. These applications demonstrate how 6G technology could address real-world challenges across multiple sectors.
Industry Shift Toward AI-Native Networks
Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden noted the sector is moving from AI-powered 5G and autonomous networks toward AI-native 6G. This progression will redefine what a network fundamentally is by enabling it to sense, adapt and orchestrate resources more effectively. The advancement represents a fundamental change in how networks will operate and respond to user demands.
Investment and Spectrum Requirements
The partners stressed that unlocking the benefits of 6G will require continued investment and wider certainty around spectrum access. This collaboration builds on a longstanding partnership between the two companies, who have previously worked together on 5G deployments in Australia, establishing a foundation for continued 6G development.
