Ericsson and Intel are working together on AI-powered network innovation covering compute, connectivity, cloud, and standards across the core network, RAN, and Edge.
- This partnership strives to make the move to 6G more open, efficient, and affordable for operators and the wider industry.
Ericsson and Intel are combining their cutting-edge technologies to help the industry prepare for a smooth transition to AI-powered 6G networks and applications.
The companies announced this extended partnership at Mobile World Congress Barcelona, May 2026. Building on their decades-long relationship, their work will cover mobile connectivity, cloud technology, and computing for AI-driven R&D and core network users. They will also focus on platform security and network features to accelerate cloud-native solutions for the industry.
Borje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson, says 6G is not simply an iteration of mobile technology. It is the infrastructure that will distribute AI across devices, the edge, and the cloud. Ericsson’s long history of network innovation and large-scale operator deployments enables us to lead practical integration across the value chain and move 6G from research into commercial reality.
Indip Bhutan, CEO of Intel, says Intel’s ambition is to be the undisputed technology leader toward unifying RAM, core, and edge AI to enable an effortless transition to AI-native 6G environments. Together with Ericsson, we will continue to demonstrate that the future of network connectivity is open, power-efficient, secure, and grounded in intelligent AI influence. With future Ericsson Silicon powered by Intel’s most advanced process nodes, ongoing multi-year research plans, and flexible AI- and RAN-ready Cloud RAN powered by Intel Xeon, we are well on our way to delivering the future performance, efficiency, and supply security that the world’s leading operators require.
A Joint Commitment
6G moves from research to action. The industry needs to work together, leveraging global standards, to turn new ideas into operational infrastructure.
This partnership will help develop high-performance, power-saving computing for both AI-powered networks and networks that support AI.
AI-powered 6G will bring together smart, flexible networks, advanced computing, and real-time sensing. This will lay the basis for faster, more efficient, and capable services. In the future, sensing and computing could work even more closely together across the network.
Showcasing Collaboration Results
Xeon and Intel are key milestones together in Cloud R&D, 5G core, and open network infrastructure at MWC26. They will pursue this progress with several demonstrations at the Ericsson Pavilion(Hall 2), Intel (Hall 3, stand E3E31), and other partner event spaces, presenting their innovative teamwork.
About Ericsson
Fixing networks, connecting billions of people every day for 150 years. We have changed the way we communicate. We deliver mobile communication and connectivity solutions for service providers and businesses. Working with our customers and partners, we help build the digital world of tomorrow.
About Intel
Intel leads the industry by creating technology that advances progress and improves lives. Guided by Moore’s Law, we keep advancing semiconductor design and manufacturing to serve our customers’ biggest challenges. By adding Intel agents to the cloud, networks, edge, and all types of devices, we help data transform businesses and society. To learn more about Intel’s innovations, visit intnewsroom.intel.com and intel.com.
Source: Ericsson and Intel collaborate to accelerate the path to commercial AI-native 6G
