Three and Ericsson run Ireland’s first live 5G-SA trial
Three Ireland and Ericsson announce 5G standalone (5G-SA) live trials, claiming an Irish first.
December 22, 2023
The network will be only available to a select number of the operator’s corporate clients, aiming to facilitate advanced technologies and IT systems.
Three Ireland has partnered with Ericsson and Technological University Shannon (TUS) on this trial which aims to showcase its capabilities in real-life scenarios. The trial will run for a period of one year but is open to extension, if needed, and presumably a commercial launch could be expected shortly after.
Unlike 5G non-standalone, which relies of 4G core, 5G-SA can unleash the real capabilities expected of 5G including ultra-reliable low latency and much larger capacity. But standalone network launches have been slower than anticipated by many industry observers.
In a recent industry survey looking into the next steps of 5G, a mere 16% of respondents stated that they have already completed their roll out of standalone, while around 60% stated they were either in the process of rollout now or in the next four years.
“5G Standalone is the next evolution in 5G technology, as we move fully away from a reliance on 4G and into 5G core technology” said David Hennessy, Chief Technical Officer Three Ireland & UK. “This is just the beginning for true 5G where we will see the extensive possibilities for powering advanced technologies and supporting greater connectivity for all kinds of devices and enhance user experiences.”
“The introduction of 5G Standalone capabilities on a public network for the first time in Ireland marks a new milestone in our partnership with Three Ireland” said John Griffin, Head of Ericsson Ireland. “5G Standalone is the ultimate next step in meeting the growing connectivity demands from consumers and businesses who require premium performance.”