Ericsson and Telstra Introduce First Programmable Network in Asia-Pacific

2025-02-20 wireless

Sydney, Thursday, 20 February 2025.
Ericsson and Telstra have launched the region’s first programmable network, promising enhanced customization and efficiency, with significant impacts expected across European telecommunications.

Strategic Partnership and Implementation

On February 18, 2025, Telstra and Ericsson announced a groundbreaking four-year partnership to upgrade Telstra’s radio access network (RAN) with advanced 5G capabilities [1]. This initiative marks a significant milestone as the first programmable network deployment of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region [1]. The partnership aims to enhance network capacity significantly, with Telstra’s infrastructure already serving Australia’s largest 5G network, covering 90% of the population [6].

Technical Innovations and Performance Metrics

The network’s capabilities have been demonstrated through remarkable performance benchmarks. Recent tests achieved a record-breaking 5G uplink speed of 516 Mbps, surpassing the previous record of 447 Mbps from October 2024 [7]. Additionally, the network reached unprecedented downlink speeds of 9.4 Gbps in live commercial testing [5], showcasing the potential for enhanced connectivity. The implementation includes Ericsson’s state-of-the-art RAN Processor 6672 and advanced MIMO radios [5], establishing new standards for network performance and efficiency.

Network Automation and AI Integration

A key feature of this programmable network is the integration of AI and automation for self-detection and self-healing network management [1]. This advancement comes at a crucial time, as Telstra has experienced a tripling of mobile data demand over the past five years [1]. The network’s programmability extends to innovative features such as network slicing, which enables Telstra to offer guaranteed SLAs for enterprise customers [6], marking a significant evolution in service delivery capabilities.

Future Impact and Industry Collaboration

The initiative is further strengthened by Telstra’s participation in Aduna, a global telecom API venture that includes major operators like América Móvil, AT&T, and Verizon [3]. This collaboration, launched in September 2024, aims to standardize network APIs for innovation in digital services [1]. The deployment is scheduled over the next four years until 2029 [1], positioning Telstra and Ericsson at the forefront of the next generation of Industry 4.0 applications in the Asia-Pacific region.

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programmable network telecommunication