Ericsson and Verizon Conduct Outdoor 6G Call Test
Ericsson and Verizon have completed a pre-standard 6G technology field test, including an outdoor call, in Concord, California. The test aimed to evaluate performance in a real-world environment and signal penetration into buildings.
Technology firm Ericsson and U.S. telecommunications operator Verizon announced they have completed a pre-standard 6G technology field test, including what they describe as the world's first outdoor 6G call. The test took place at a Verizon commercial network site in Concord, California, utilizing the 7 GHz frequency band.
The initiative aimed to move 6G technology out of laboratory settings and into a real-world environment for performance evaluation. This involved testing outdoor network capabilities and studying how signals behave when penetrating buildings. Ericsson's 6G concept verification equipment, with a base station located indoors and a user terminal in a mobile test unit, formed the core of the testing.
Testing encompassed assessing network coverage, throughput, latency, stability, and signal penetration through various building materials. It also included non-line-of-sight tests and evaluated the impact of vegetation and obstructions. The goal was to gather data on 6G signal behavior under diverse, realistic conditions.
Ericsson and Verizon emphasized that this is a concept demonstration phase prior to the finalization of official 6G standards. The insights gained will inform future technology development and network planning. 6G is anticipated to offer enhanced speeds and new capabilities, such as environmental sensing, enabling advanced applications in areas like industrial automation and immersive communication.