Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Ericsson, VodafoneThree, Verizon, 6G Sensing Trials in 4GHz, FCC, among others.
Ericsson 5G Core Goes Live on VodafoneThree Network
Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G core has gone live on VodafoneThree’s UK network, supporting the operator’s plans for differentiated connectivity services including network slicing. Ericsson was initially contracted by Three UK in January 2025 to strengthen the network amid rising data demand. The core project is designed to provide up to 9 Tbit/s of capacity, which Ericsson describes as one of Europe’s largest mobile packet cores. The deployment is expected to support secure connectivity services and future network-slicing capabilities. VodafoneThree is also dealing with the planned migration away from legacy copper networks, with Openreach reporting that 90 percent of copper-based lines across the UK’s 10 major cities have been upgraded to digital alternatives ahead of the planned January 2027 switch-off.
Verizon Seeks FCC Approval for 6G Sensing Trials in 4GHz
Verizon has applied to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for an experimental license to test advanced 5G sensing technologies in the 4.8-4.9 GHz band as a precursor to 6G integrated sensing and communications. The one-year trial would take place around Verizon’s Los Angeles laboratory using Ericsson equipment and Samsung technology, with an outdoor private network covering a radius of about five kilometers. The testing will focus on object sensing and related applications, building on Verizon’s existing work with sensing technologies for crowd monitoring and drone safety. Verizon said the trial could support future commercial, public-safety and defense applications while contributing to development of next-generation 6G capabilities.
Private 5G and 4G Set to Transform Defense Communications
Private 5G and 4G LTE networks are gaining adoption across defense organizations as militaries modernize tactical communications, military bases, training facilities and remote operations. A new ResearchAndMarkets report projects defense-sector spending on private cellular networks to grow at a 24 percent compound annual growth rate over the next three years, with cumulative investment approaching $2.5 billion between 2026 and 2029. Deployments are supporting secure communications, edge computing, autonomous systems, drones, integrated sensing and mission-critical operations. Programs across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, Italy and other countries are advancing private cellular adoption, with networks spanning sub-1 GHz through mid-band and millimeter-wave spectrum.