Ericsson officially announced that 6G technology has moved from the "concept and vision" stage to the "practical verification" stage. It not only completed the world's first 6G pre-standard over-the-air (OTA) test, but also partnered with chip manufacturers such as Qualcomm and Intel to jointly advance the commercialization of AI-native networks. Furthermore, Ericsson's ISAC (Interconnected and Sensing Convergence) technology signifies that future base stations will possess radar-like sensing capabilities.
For the global telecommunications industry, the outline of 6G has become extremely clear at this year's MWC 2026. It is no longer just about pursuing faster download speeds, but about creating a "super brain" with environmental awareness, AI computing, and real-time control capabilities.
World's First 6G OTA Test: A Powerful Demonstration of AI-Native Networks
Ericsson's biggest technological highlight at MWC 2026 was the successful completion of the world's first OTA test for a 6G pre-standard.
This architecture, built on an end-to-end pre-standard 6G system, is characterized by its highly "software-based" and "cloud-native" design, allowing for flexible deployment on CPU and GPU computing platforms. Test results demonstrate two key breakthroughs for future 6G networks:
• Instantaneous control with extremely low latency:With its extremely stable connectivity, the network can directly support the real-time operation and remote control of AI robots, breaking the past limitations of relying on the local computing power of terminal devices.
• Ultra-high uplink capacity:It meets the stringent requirements of future immersive applications and high-quality real-time audio and video streaming.
This test verifies that the future network will no longer be just a passive "data pipe," but an AI computing infrastructure with real-time perception and self-adjustment capabilities.
Chip giants Qualcomm and Intel join forces to define 6G specifications.
To drive the large-scale commercial deployment of 6G networks, relying solely on telecom equipment manufacturers is insufficient; the collaboration between terminal and server chips is crucial. Ericsson has announced deep alliances with two major chip manufacturers:
• Qualcomm: Both parties have proposed specific designs for the research direction of 3GPP 6G Release 20 and completed key capability verification of 400 MHz carrier bandwidth and 30 kHz subcarrier spacing in the laboratory. At MWC 2026, both parties also demonstrated the performance of the new 6–8 GHz centimeter wave (cmWave) spectrum, laying the foundation for future spectrum planning and device connectivity.
• Intel: The two companies will continue their long-term collaboration, focusing on the integration of cloud and computing capabilities. They will jointly promote AI-driven Cloud RAN (Cloud Radio Access Network) and core network security, realizing the dual development of "optimizing networks with AI" and "building networks for AI".
ISAC technology shines: Base stations transformed into drone tracking radars
If speed and AI are the inevitable alternation of communication generations, then ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication) will be the most disruptive "black technology" brought by 6G.
Ericsson has successfully completed a real-time proof-of-concept for its ISAC technology. Using its Massive MIMO wireless equipment, the electromagnetic waves emitted by the base station can not only transmit communication signals but also, like radar, detect and track unconnected unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the airspace in real time through signal reflection. This technology will have wide applications in smart cities, airspace safety monitoring, and drone logistics management in the future.
