Ericsson and Telstra pioneer the first programmable network in Asia-Pacific

• Four-year deployment will put Telstra's network, and related offerings, among global frontrunners 
• Network capabilities will drive differentiated connectivity for Telstra's consumer and enterprise customers and create new monetization opportunities 
• Accelerates innovation from wider ecosystems via network APIs

STOCKHOLM, Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Customers of Australian communications service provider (CSP) Telstra are set to become the first in the Asia-Pacific region to benefit from a high-performing, programmable network with 5G Advanced capabilities, thanks to a major partnership with Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC).

Under the four-year deal, Telstra will upgrade its radio access network (RAN) with Ericsson's next-generation Open RAN-ready hardware solutions and 5G Advanced software. It will also implement AI and automation to optimize network management through self-detection and self-healing capabilities. 

The transformation will power Telstra with one of the most advanced, resilient and reliable 5G networks in the world. Telstra's programmable network will provide a platform for innovative application development and the ability to tailor superior connectivity to the unique requirements of its customers, including new performance-based offerings.

Further, it will open the network to tech innovators from wider ecosystems via network APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).

The adoption and acceleration in uptake of network APIs, and how they can drive telecom industry monetization opportunities, is also the focus of the recently announced global venture, Aduna, of which Ericsson and Telstra are founding members. Telstra's new 5G Advanced network capabilities will be central to the delivery of such API-based services.

The high-performing capabilities of the 5G Standalone (5G SA) solutions involved are also key to enabling the next-generation use cases and developer innovation that will make Industry 4.0 a reality in Australia.

Vicki Brady, CEO of Telstra, says, "We are at an inflection point, where customer needs for technology and connectivity are becoming more sophisticated, requiring a step change in how connectivity is delivered and consumed. At the same time, demand for mobile data on our network has tripled over the past five years.

"Through our partnership with Ericsson, the first-of-its-kind for any operator across Asia-Pacific, we will evolve our offering and improve the efficiency of how we use our spectrum so we can increase our 5G network capacity to deliver better consistency of performance, reliability and speed to millions of customers.

"With a programmable network we will move from a one-size-fits all proposition, to being able to deliver more sophisticated use cases and commercial models to provide a differentiated and more tailored connectivity experience to customers."

Börje Ekholm, President and CEO, Ericsson, says: "High-performing programmable networks are the building blocks to digitalize enterprises and nations. Telstra - a longstanding early adopter partner of Ericsson - is set to enjoy the benefits that Ericsson 5G Standalone connectivity will bring. This faster, more secure, and differentiated connectivity will transform consumer and enterprise experiences and enable developers to use 5G technologies to experiment, innovate, and build game-changing applications. Through this deal, Telstra is also empowering Australians - from single developers to the nation's largest industries - to play their part in ensuring Australia is competitive on the global stage. We look forward to working closely with Telstra to make that happen."

OTHER TELSTRA BENEFITS

The new network will maximize Telstra's spectrum investments and operational efficiency. It aims to double 5G capacity, deliver improved consistency of service, increase depth of coverage, increase uplink and downlink speeds, and reduce energy consumption.

In addition, it will enable the transformation of traditional one-size fits all mobile services towards differentiated connectivity, where consumers and enterprises can create their own service experience.

MORE ON THE TECH

Solutions include Ericsson's Open RAN-ready Massive MIMO radios and new RAN Compute solutions as well as Ericsson's latest 5G Advanced subscriptions to deliver new services, drive operational efficiency, and increase performance. The scope also includes Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP), Ericsson's open network management and automation platform for open, multi-vendor and multi-technology networks, supporting all 4G and 5G RAN.

EIAP will improve network management and automation by leveraging EIAP and developer eco-system tools to create and deploy custom applications (rApps) that employ advanced automation techniques, including machine learning and AI, to optimize the network and deliver improved sustainable operations.

This latest partnership extension builds on Ericsson and Telstra's long-standing collaboration across radio access networks, core, optical, transport and business support systems.

ADUNA

In addition to Ericsson and Telstra, the founding members of Aduna are América Móvil, AT&T, Bharti Airtel, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Reliance Jio, Singtel, Telefonica, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Vodafone.

The venture was announced in September 2024, with the company name announced in January 2025. It aims to combine and sell network APIs on a global scale to spur innovation in digital services.

Partners will open their networks to make advanced capabilities easily accessible to millions of developers world-wide, through a global platform for aggregated network APIs. This aim is to drive new use cases across multiple industries and sectors.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Ericsson 5G Advanced Solutions

Industrializing Open RAN (Ericsson)

Ericsson Intelligent Automation platform

OSS/BSS evolution for successful 5G monetization

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ABOUT ERICSSON:
Ericsson enables communications service providers and enterprises to capture the full value of connectivity. The company's portfolio spans the following business areas: Networks, Cloud Software and Services, Enterprise Wireless Solutions, Global Communications Platform, and Technologies and New Businesses. It is designed to help our customers go digital, increase efficiency and find new revenue streams. Ericsson's innovation investments have delivered the benefits of mobility and mobile broadband to billions of people globally. Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on Nasdaq New York. www.ericsson.com

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