Telstra and Ericsson Collaborate on Advancing AI-Native 6G

Telstra and Ericsson agreed to collaborate on 6G research and trials. The companies will try to accelerate the development of the next-generation mobile technology with a focus on AI-native architecture.

As part of the deal, the pair cited a 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 the vendor’s teams will work from Telstra’s Innovation Centre on Australia’s Gold Coast to assess 6G performance across different geographic environments. The collaboration supports the operator’s Connected Future 30 strategy, which centers on long-term network development and supporting an AI-driven future to keep Australia at the forefront of digital innovation.

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 G, which is AI-native, adding that it will be the most intelligent network yet. He also pointed to future capabilities, including environmental sensing and Network as a Product applications, with potential use cases spanning public safety, agriculture, and weather detection.

Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden noted the sector is moving from AI-powered 5G and autonomous networks, towards AI-native 6G that would redefine what a network fundamentally is by being able to sense, adapt, and orchestrate resources. The partners also stressed that unlocking the benefits of 6G will require continued investment and wider certainty around spectrum access. The agreement builds on a longstanding partnership between the pair, who have previously worked together on 5G deployments in Australia.