Ericsson and HPE Join Forces to Accelerate 5G Core Network Innovation with New Validation Lab
The telecommunications landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by the demands of 5G, AI, and cloud-native technologies. To help service providers navigate this complexity and accelerate the deployment of next-generation networks, Ericsson and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) have announced a strategic collaboration centered around a new, state-of-the-art joint validation lab. This initiative promises to streamline operations, reduce costs, and unlock the full potential of 5G for a more connected future.
(Expertise & authority – Establishing the Context)
For decades, Ericsson has been a global leader in telecommunications infrastructure, pioneering advancements in mobile technology from 2G to 5G. HPE, meanwhile, has a long-standing reputation for delivering robust and scalable compute, networking, and software solutions to enterprises worldwide. this partnership leverages the core strengths of both companies, addressing a critical need in the industry: the seamless integration and validation of multi-vendor 5G core infrastructure. The increasing complexity of deploying a 5G network with components from multiple suppliers necessitates a dedicated habitat for rigorous testing and interoperability assurance.
(user Intent – Addressing the “Why” and “How”)
Telco service providers are facing significant challenges in deploying and managing modern 5G networks. These include:
* Interoperability Issues: Ensuring different vendors’ hardware and software work together flawlessly.
* Complexity of Cloud-Native Architectures: Managing the intricacies of containerization, orchestration, and automation.
* Time-to-Market Pressure: Rapidly launching new services to meet evolving customer demands.
* Operational Efficiency: reducing costs and streamlining network management.
This collaboration directly addresses these pain points by providing a dedicated testing ground and a pre-validated, integrated solution.
(The Integrated Solution: A Deep Dive)
The core of this partnership is a fully integrated stack built on leading-edge technologies:
* EricssonS Dual-Mode 5G Core: This advanced core network solution supports both 5G and 4G networks together, offering operators a pathway to efficiently scale their infrastructure and future-proof their investments. By supporting both generations, operators can avoid costly and disruptive rip-and-replace scenarios.
* HPE ProLiant Compute Gen12i Servers: Powered by the latest Intel Xeon 6 processors,these servers are specifically engineered to deliver optimized performance for demanding,containerized 5G core network functions like AMF,UPF,and SMF. Crucially, they incorporate HPE Integrated Lights Out 7, providing chip-to-cloud security – a critical consideration in today’s threat landscape.
* HPE Juniper Networking Fabric (Managed by Apstra Data Center Director): This high-performance networking fabric, utilizing QFX Series switches and Apstra’s intent-based automation and AIOps capabilities, enhances operational efficiency and reduces operating expenses. automation is key to managing the scale and complexity of modern networks.
* Red Hat OpenShift: Serving as the common cloud-native platform, OpenShift provides the agility service providers need to rapidly develop, deploy, and scale new services. This accelerates time-to-market and reduces the traditional lengthy deployment cycles.
(The Validation Lab: A Real-World Testing Environment)
Located near Ericsson’s headquarters in Sweden, the validation lab will be fully operational by the end of 2025. It will offer customers a unique prospect to:
* Conduct Interoperability Testing: Verify the seamless integration of the entire stack.
* Validate Performance and scalability: Ensure the solution meets stringent telco requirements under real-world conditions.
* Receive Expert Feedback: Benefit from the combined expertise of Ericsson and HPE engineers.
In the first half of 2026, the lab’s focus will shift to validating the integrated service end-to-end, further accelerating time-to-market and simplifying lifecycle management.
(Trustworthiness & Experience - Quotes and Future Outlook)
“Building on our strategic partnership with Ericsson, this collaboration reflects HPE’s commitment to empowering telco service providers with innovative technology solutions to thrive in the 5G and AI-driven economy,” stated Fernando Castro Cristin, Vice President and General Manager of Telco Infrastructure Business at HPE. “By integrating Ericsson’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core and Red Hat OpenShift with our proven next-gen HPE compute infrastructure and HPE Juniper Networking fabric, we are developing a new integrated offering that will provide telco service providers with the versatility to deploy rapidly, scale on demand, adapt to
