Ericsson to establish 6G focussed research unit in UK

ICT company Ericsson will establish a research unit in the UK to focus on exploring 6G technology and the future of digital infrastructure. 

The multi-million-pound investment into a 10 year program will see 20 dedicated researchers employed to focus on areas including network resilience, artificial intelligence and energy efficiency. Investment will also support PhD students to work alongside academics and industry partners at the top of their fields. 

Magnus Frodigh, Vice President & Head of Ericsson Research, said: ‘Establishing a research program in the UK means the country will be well positioned to utilise its existing high international level of knowledge in wireless systems and technologies to produce ground-breaking 6G research that not only can help shape the future of global standards but also deliver a more connected, efficient and sustainable society.” 

Though 5G networks have only been installed in the UK in recent years, it is expected that 6G technology will be providing even faster network connectivity by the 2030s. Ericsson says that it anticipates the technology to ‘merge the digital and physical world’ as well as aiding with healthcare, smart agriculture and autonomous systems across society. 

Earlier this year, the UK government launched a £250m programme to deliver its 5G diversification strategy and fund projects such as the Future Open Networks Research Challenge which offered funding for universities to work with industry players in contributing to the UK’s 6G vision. 

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Michelle Donelan, said of the government’s role in the research into 6G: ‘Our mission is to lead the world in developing next-generation network tech, and we will soon publish a strategy outlining how we harness 6G to deliver more for people and business.’ 

Research into 6G has seen a boost around the globe recently with Japan establishing a £400m fund to support investment into the technology, which is expected to be ten times faster than 5G, India also declared that it was aiming to launch the tech by the end of the 2020s and appointed a dedicated task force for the goal. 

A ‘Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking’ has also been set up with a €900m budget by the European Union to enable member countries to pool resources and ‘ensure industrial leadership for Europe’ in the installation of 5G networks and research into 6G. 

Photo by Kabiur Rahman Riyad