Ericsson Welcomes U.S.-Sweden 6G Cooperation

Ericsson announced that it has welcomed a joint statement by the U.S. and Swedish governments pledging further cooperation on advanced wireless technologies, including 6G.

The August 6 declaration is the latest bilateral agreement between Sweden and the U.S. regarding the desire to pool resources, expertise and technology leadership on new, developing and future connectivity technologies.

The areas of cooperation include: 6G research including potential funding, 6G spectrum allocation and introducing new technologies in existing frequency bands, the global harmonization of 6G frequency bands, the development of international standards-aligned technologies, encouraging a broad and inclusive 6G ecosystem and  developing 6G technologies to help bridge digital divides. Read the joint statement for a detailed breakdown.

”We intend to engage regularly and focus on cooperation in next generation communications, including 6G and beyond, as outlined in this vision for the mutual benefit of the United States of America, the Kingdom of Sweden, and the wider global community,” the joint statement reads.

In mid-April 2024 the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) and the Swedish Research Council unveiled a five-year memorandum of understanding innovation research partnership spanning business, academia and research institutions.

Artificial intelligence (AI), 6G connectivity, machine learning, and quantum technology are among the areas to be explored.

That announcement followed an April 5 2024 unveiling of a new joint 6G Vision between the United States and the European Union, strengthening cooperation and partnership on developing emerging technologies – a move welcomed by Ericsson Chief Technology Officer, Erik Ekudden.

Details of the 6G Vision were highlighted at the latest EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council (TTC) session in Leuven, Belgium, comprising senior officials from the European Commission and the U.S. Government, including U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

Secretary of State Blinken also attended a May 2023 meeting of the Trade and Technology Council in the northern Swedish city of Luleå, under Sweden’s then Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Ericsson CEO Börje Ekholm attended the Luleå meeting - where the future technology bilateral partnership framework agreement between the U.S and Sweden was first highlighted by Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Johan Forssell.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also pledged to deepen 6G research cooperation when they met in Washington in July 2023.

Source: Ericsson media announcement