LONDON (Reuters) – Telecoms equipment maker Ericsson said on Tuesday it would invest millions of pounds in research to develop a 6G network in the United Kingdom. The company works with universities on device security, artificial intelligence, cognitive networks, and quantum computing.
The Swedish company, a global supplier of 5G equipment, said the 10-year initiative will help boost the development of 6G networks, which are expected to be commercially available around 2030.
Catherine Ainley, CEO of Ericsson UK and Ireland, said that British universities are conducting cutting-edge research into some of the technologies that could support next-generation networks.
“We will establish a team of 20 experienced researchers here in the UK and will also seek to sponsor students,” she said. “Our initial focus will be on 6G networks and device security.”
It said the new group would complement Ericsson’s existing 17 research sites in 12 countries.
The British government, which is working to protect scientific research funding after Brexit, said Ericsson’s investment was a “major vote of confidence” in the country’s telecoms sector, adding that it would soon publish a strategy for sixth generation technology.
(Written by Paul Sandell)
