Jack Loughran Tue 3 Mar 2026
Collected at: https://eandt.theiet.org/2026/03/03/ericsson-tests-pre-standard-6g-over-air-robot-trial
Ericsson says it has carried out the world’s first 6G over-the-air (OTA) trials after the technology was used to control AI-powered robots and conduct real-time video streaming.
6G is not expected to be made widely available until the end of the decade at the earliest, but operators are already assessing technologies that can deliver faster data speeds and much greater network capacity than 5G, as well as ultra-low latency. 6G is also likely to improve energy efficiency and reliability, which could help to power smart cities, advanced healthcare and next-generation industrial automation.
Ericsson said the technology used in its trial was “pre-standard”, as the final standards and technical specifications will need to be confirmed by an industry body known as 3GPP.
In last week’s 6G OTA trial, an AI-equipped robot was powered using what Ericsson called an “instant, reliable connection” that allowed for real‑time control and video streaming. The firm said that 6G networks, when deployed, will be designed to sense, compute and adapt in real time, enabling consistent low latency, higher uplink capacity and new AI service classes.
“Ericsson’s 6G demonstration is an important milestone in next generation wireless innovation, enabled by American ingenuity,” said Howard Lutnick, US secretary of commerce. “The Trump Administration will always back our trusted partners, and we are committed to an American designed and operated future of cutting-edge connectivity.”
Börje Ekholm, chief executive officer of Ericsson, said: “6G will be foundational to how artificial intelligence scales across society and will be critical to the national security, economic prosperity, and global competitiveness of the United States.”
The demonstration used Ericsson-made hardware, including radios, baseband platforms and cloud-based software. The firm said it planned to continue expanding trials across additional spectrum bands in the future.
The industry is expected to accelerate 6G standardisation work in 2027 and 2028, with commercial roll-outs targeted for around 2030. The experience of previous wireless network generations, especially 5G, suggests that it may take years before consumers start to feel 6G’s benefits; while the first 5G networks were launched in 2019, widespread standalone deployments and full-feature capabilities have been rolled out much more gradually, with many operators still expanding coverage and upgrading core infrastructure.
Leave a Reply