Originally announced by Ericsson in February 2020. Source: ericsson.com
Overview
Ericsson announced four additions to its 5G platform aimed at enhancing user experience, reducing complexity and total cost of ownership (TCO), enabling faster service deployment, and introducing automated provisioning. As operators move to 5G, the mobile network must support a broader range of services and significantly higher data volumes than previous generations, demanding greater levels of automation and intelligence throughout the stack.
David Bjore, Head of R&D and Portfolio, Business Area Digital Services at Ericsson, commented: “Through our core networks, service providers can get to market faster and can capitalize on new services, through leading consumer and enterprise communication and monetization solutions, enabling them to stay ahead in the race for 5G business, today and tomorrow.”
Key Additions to the 5G Platform
- Dual-mode 5G Core with built-in software probes, integrated with Ericsson Expert Analytics
- Ericsson Cloud Native Infrastructure: bare-metal container infrastructure for 5G Core deployments
- Ericsson Communication Accelerator: cloud-based microservices for business communication
- Automated eSIM offering for expanded device connectivity
Securing 5G Experience with Built-In Software Probes
Traditional appliance-based probing is not sustainable at 5G Core scale. Hardware probes add cost and operational complexity that conflicts with the cloud-native design principles underpinning 5G architecture. Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core addresses this by embedding software probes directly into the core network, eliminating the need for separate probing appliances and the associated capital expenditure.
These built-in probes are pre-integrated with Ericsson Expert Analytics, providing correlated end-to-end insights that extend from the core to the Radio Access Network (RAN). Transparent and secure interfaces in the 5G Core architecture also ensure that sensitive subscriber data remains protected during analysis.
Anil Rao, Principal Analyst at Analysys Mason, stated: “The traditional appliance-based probes technology and the associated CEM approaches are not fit for purpose to guarantee customer experiences in cloud-based 5G networks. Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core with built-in software probes, pre-integrated with Ericsson Expert Analytics’ intelligence, enables CSPs to deliver superior 5G customer experiences and accelerate 5G roll-out.”
Cloud Native Infrastructure: Containers on Bare Metal
Ericsson introduced Ericsson Cloud Native Infrastructure, a bare-metal container platform designed to simplify the deployment of cloud-native applications such as 5G Core, both at central data centers and at edge sites. By removing the virtualization layer—eliminating the hypervisor overhead present in traditional VM-based deployments—the solution reduces complexity and improves hardware efficiency and application performance.
Ericsson claims TCO savings of 30% or more compared to VM-based infrastructure, though this figure should be treated as a vendor estimate rather than an independently verified benchmark. Automated deployments across distributed sites are a core design goal, which aligns with the operational requirements of large-scale 5G rollouts.
Caroline Chappell, Research Director at Analysys Mason, noted: “A bare metal container infrastructure makes network deployments and operations simpler and automation easier as well as enhancing cloud native function (CNF) performance. The announcement of a bare metal solution is an important contribution to further progress telecom operators’ implementations of cloud native applications.”
Ericsson Communication Accelerator: Business Communication Services
The Ericsson Communication Accelerator is a portfolio of cloud-based microservices that communication service providers (CSPs) can combine to rapidly deliver advanced mobile business communication offerings. The solution is delivered as-a-service and is designed to leverage a service provider’s existing network assets, reducing time to market while maintaining security and quality of service controls.
New Service Opportunities for Operators
- Enterprise Voice Services: Combines traditional business voice with innovative features to differentiate operator offerings in the enterprise market.
- IoT Voice Services: Provides automated, centralized management of voice services for IoT deployments.
- Contextual Communication Services: Enables straightforward integration of advanced communication and collaboration capabilities into websites or third-party applications.
Diane Myers, Senior Research Director for VoIP, UC and IMS Technology at IHS Markit, commented: “Cloud communications services for business users have been the playground for pure-play UCaaS and CPaaS providers. It is time for mobile operators to accelerate their business communication offerings to the market. An initial focus on the microbusiness segment is a good steppingstone for expansion and growth in the business segment.”
Automated eSIM and Consumer Demand
Complementing the Communication Accelerator, Ericsson also launched a fully automated eSIM offering. eSIM simplifies multi-device connectivity for consumers and enterprises by enabling over-the-air SIM provisioning without physical SIM card swaps. According to an Ericsson ConsumerLab report cited at the time of announcement, 94% of survey respondents indicated willingness to pay extra to connect additional devices to their existing subscription plan, and 86% expressed interest in “try and buy” service offerings.
Together, these additions position Ericsson’s 5G platform as an end-to-end portfolio covering network infrastructure, operational analytics, business communication services, and consumer connectivity — addressing the commercial as well as technical requirements operators face in a 5G transition.
Summary
| Addition | Primary Benefit |
|---|---|
| Dual-mode 5G Core + Software Probes | Reduced TCO, cloud-native experience assurance, E2E analytics |
| Cloud Native Infrastructure (bare metal) | Up to 30%+ TCO reduction vs. VMs, simpler automation |
| Communication Accelerator | Faster delivery of enterprise and IoT communication services |
| Automated eSIM | Multi-device connectivity, improved consumer experience |
As 5G deployments mature, orchestration, automation, and cloud-native design will increasingly separate competitive operators from those still managing legacy infrastructure. These additions reflect Ericsson’s strategy of tying together core network modernization with commercial service enablement on a single platform.