U.S. shows ISAC leadership as Ericsson demonstrates breakthrough drone detection proof of concept at Texas headquarters

Rhea-AI Summary

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) demonstrated a live ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication) proof of concept for drone detection at its U.S. headquarters in Plano, Texas on Feb. 26, 2026. The trial used massive‑MIMO radios to locate passive UAVs, showing network‑based sensing that can augment local sensors and support commercial, public safety and defense use cases.

The release notes US 3GPP progress toward Release 19, plans for 6G standardization, a $150 million Lewisville 5G factory investment, and 550 U.S. manufacturing jobs.

Positive

• Live ISAC proof of concept confirmed drone detection using massive‑MIMO radios
• $150 million invested in Lewisville 5G USA Smart Factory
• 550 U.S. manufacturing jobs supported at the Lewisville facility
• 3GPP Release 19 studies advancing ISAC toward early 6G standardization

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

U.S. operations history: 120 years Corporate history: 150 years U.S. employees: more than 6,000 +4 more

7 metrics

U.S. operations history 120 years Ericsson operating in the United States

Corporate history 150 years Ericsson pioneering communication technology

U.S. employees more than 6,000 Ericsson workforce across the United States

R&D centers 12 centers U.S. R&D sites focused on AI, ASIC design, antenna systems

5G factory investment more than $150 million Investment in 5G USA Smart Factory in Lewisville, Texas

Factory size 300,000 square feet 5G USA Smart Factory facility footprint

Manufacturing jobs more than 550 jobs U.S. manufacturing roles supported by the 5G factory

Market Reality Check

Price: $11.19 Vol: Volume 9,862,271 is 24% a...

normal vol

$11.19 Last Close

Volume Volume 9,862,271 is 24% above 20-day average of 7,940,519, indicating elevated interest ahead of this ISAC update. normal

Technical Trading at $11.19, just below the 52-week high of $11.38 and above the 200-day MA of $8.95, reflecting a strong pre-existing uptrend into this announcement.

Peers on Argus

ERIC is up 1.45% with above-average volume, while key peers show mixed, mostly m...

ERIC is up 1.45% with above-average volume, while key peers show mixed, mostly modest moves: NOK +0.26%, HPE +1.73%, CIEN +2.12%, UI -0.73%, ZBRA +0.26%. No coordinated sector momentum flagged by scanners.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 25 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 25	Network API partnership	Positive	+1.4%	Zuper–Vonage MoU to integrate QoD APIs for field workflows.
Feb 24	AGM announcement	Neutral	-0.5%	Notice of 2026 AGM with governance and compensation agenda.
Feb 19	Developer ecosystem	Positive	+0.7%	Vonage expands APIs via Postman workspace and startup program.
Feb 18	Fintech collaboration	Positive	-0.1%	Ericsson–Mastercard integration to enhance digital wallet services.
Feb 17	5G laptop solution	Positive	+1.0%	Microsoft–Ericsson tie-up for enterprise 5G laptop management.

Pattern Detected

Recent partnership and ecosystem news has more often led to modest positive price reactions, but with occasional small divergences.

Recent Company History

Over the last weeks, Ericsson has highlighted multiple ecosystem and partnership initiatives. These include collaborations with Microsoft on Windows 11 5G laptop management, Mastercard on digital money movement, Vonage on developer tools and a Zuper MoU for network APIs. An AGM notice added routine corporate governance context. Price reactions have typically been modest, with 3 aligned and 2 divergent moves, suggesting incremental but not transformational impacts. Today’s ISAC drone-detection proof of concept fits the pattern of technology-focused, innovation-heavy updates.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Ericsson’s progress in Integrated Sensing and Communication, using mass...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Ericsson’s progress in Integrated Sensing and Communication, using massive-MIMO radios to detect drones and other passive objects while reusing existing mobile infrastructure. It reinforces the company’s role in shaping early 6G capabilities and complements recent partnerships across cloud, fintech, and enterprise connectivity. Investors may watch for follow-on deployments, standardization milestones, and tangible commercial use cases—such as airspace safety, industrial protection, and transportation assistance—to gauge how quickly this proof of concept translates into revenue and competitive advantage.

Key Terms

isac, uavs, 3gpp, 6g, +1 more

5 terms

isac technical

"Ericsson today announced a successful live proof of concept of its ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication) technology"

An Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) is a sector-focused organization where companies, government agencies, and other stakeholders exchange cyber threat information, defensive tactics, and coordinated responses to incidents. For investors, participation in an ISAC is like a neighborhood watch for digital risks — it can lower the chance of costly breaches, improve operational resilience and reputation, and serve as a signal of stronger risk management that may affect a company's financial stability and stock value.

uavs technical

"showcasing the network's ability to track unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within surrounding airspace"

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are remote-controlled or autonomous flying machines—think of them as motorized, programmable model airplanes or helicopters that can carry cameras, sensors, cargo or other equipment without an onboard pilot. For investors, UAVs matter because they create new revenue streams and cost savings across industries like defense, delivery, agriculture, and inspection, while being sensitive to regulation, technology changes, and manufacturing supply chains.

3gpp technical

"The capability is progressing in 3GPP with initial studies in Release 19"

3GPP is a global standards group that creates the technical rules enabling mobile networks and devices to work together — think of it as the rulebook for how phones, antennas and networks speak the same language. Investors care because these standards shape which technologies gain wide adoption, influence network rollouts, and affect patent licensing and equipment markets, all of which can change revenue and costs across telecom companies.

6g technical

"expected to form part of early 6G standardization, showing the foundation for broad, scalable sensing applications"

6G is the next-generation wireless network technology being developed to succeed 5G, promising much faster data speeds, minimal delays, and the ability to connect far more devices and sensors. For investors it matters because building 6G will create long-term demand for new equipment, chips, software, and services—similar to upgrading from a two-lane road to a smart multi-lane highway—and can reshape which companies earn revenue as networks, devices, and applications evolve.

ran technical

"manufactures advanced 5G radios and RAN compute systems at its 5G USA Smart Factory"

"Ran" is the past tense of "run," which in finance often describes the period during which a stock, market, or investment performs strongly and steadily increases in value. When an investment "ran," it means it experienced a notable upward movement, gaining attention from investors. This term helps convey how well an asset has performed over a certain time, highlighting periods of growth or success.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

• The proof of concept integrates sensing and spatial location of passive objects into mobile networks, proving 5G technology's ability to sense its surroundings using telecommunications infrastructure
• Wide-area network sensing augments local sensors for UAV/airspace safety, transportation assistance, and industrial protection, and can enhance network performance
• Ericsson's ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication) technology creates opportunities for commercial, public safety and defense use cases across the industry

PLANO, Texas, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ericsson today announced a successful live proof of concept of its ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication) technology at the company's U.S. Headquarters in Plano, Texas, signaling a major step forward in the evolution of networks that both connect and sense the world around them. The live proof of concept centered on drone detection using Ericsson's massive-MIMO radios, showcasing the network's ability to track unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within surrounding airspace.

This proof of concept demonstrates that the US is a global leader in ISAC technology which enhances national security, optimizes spectrum use, and drives economic growth. ISAC is an innovative technology that enables use cases across commercial, public safety and defense scenarios, enabling faster adoption of new emerging technologies like autonomous systems and drone delivery in commercial settings. From a defense scenario, it augments national security and provides an additional layer of safety.

ISAC integrates sensing and spatial location of passive (not connected) objects into the mobile communication network - extending network functionality beyond connectivity by enabling the detection and characterization of objects and movement using existing infrastructure. The capability is progressing in 3GPP with initial studies in Release 19 and is expected to form part of early 6G standardization, showing the foundation for broad, scalable sensing applications.

"ISAC represents a transformative leap forward, merging advanced communications and sensing capabilities into a unified platform," said Dr. Tom Rondeau, Principal Director for the DoW's FutureG Office. "By using communication signals to sense the physical world in real-time, ISAC gives wireless networks a new dimension of environmental awareness, enabling groundbreaking applications that advance both U.S. national security and commercial interests, and solidifying America's leadership in the race to 6G."

"Today, we showed how ISAC can unlock a new class of applications - from safer skies to smarter cities - by introducing a powerful new sensing platform as an added layer to the existing telecom network," said Yossi Cohen, President and CEO of Ericsson Americas. "By transforming deployed radio sites and spectrum to support both communications and sensing, we give networks the ability to truly perceive their surroundings. We can introduce these capabilities efficiently and responsibly, accelerating time to value for operators and their customers. As a trusted supplier and long-term partner worldwide, Ericsson brings the scale, reliability, and security to help service providers realize these benefits from day one."

During this proof of concept, Ericsson engineers showcased how network-based sensing supports use cases such as drone detection and airspace safety. We continue to explore how sensing can be used for automotive and transportation assistance; industrial automation and worker protection - use cases that benefit from the network's wide-area perspective and ability to "see around corners."

Why it matters:

• Safer, smarter infrastructure: Network-based sensing can support use cases by augmenting local sensors with wide-area network awareness.
• Efficient path to scale: ISAC is designed to reuse existing mobile network sites, spectrum, and hardware, enabling pragmatic introduction and coverage at scale.
• Road to 6G: 3GPP studies have begun, with ISAC poised to become a foundational capability in the 6G era.

The proof of concept underscores Ericsson's commitment to advancing 6G-era capabilities and collaborating with the broader ecosystem to validate real-world scenarios and deployment approaches across sites, spectrum, and hardware integration levels.

Ericsson in the United States

Ericsson has operated in the US for more than 120 years and continues to expand its footprint across research, manufacturing, and operations. The company employes more than 6,000 people across the country and operates 12 R&D centers focused on AI, ASIC design, and antenna systems. Its U.S. headquarters in Plano, Texas, serves as a major hub for advanced wireless R&D, standards development, and customer engagement.

Ericsson also currently manufactures advanced 5G radios and RAN compute systems at its 5G USA Smart Factory in Lewisville, Texas – one of the most advanced telecom manufacturing facilities in the country. Ericsson has invested more than $150 million in the factory and is the only manufacturer making telecom equipment at scale in the US. The highly automated, 300,000-square-foot facility supports more than 550 US manufacturing jobs and strengthens secure, resilient domestic supply chains. As 6G technology matures, Ericsson plans to build-on this US-based manufacturing foundation to support future deployments.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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ABOUT ERICSSON:
Ericsson's high-performing, programmable networks provide connectivity for billions of people every day. For 150 years, we've been pioneers in creating technology for communication. We offer mobile communication and connectivity solutions for service providers and enterprises. Together with our customers and partners, we make the digital world of tomorrow a reality. www.ericsson.com

 

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SOURCE Ericsson

FAQ

What did Ericsson announce about ISAC and drone detection on Feb. 26, 2026 (ERIC)?

Ericsson announced a live ISAC proof of concept that detected and located UAVs using massive‑MIMO radios. According to the company, the Plano demo showed network‑based sensing can augment local sensors and support public safety, commercial and defense use cases.

How does Ericsson say ISAC will affect 6G development and standards (ERIC)?

ISAC is progressing in 3GPP studies and is expected to inform early 6G standardization efforts. According to the company, initial work in Release 19 lays a foundation for sensing capabilities in future 6G networks.

What manufacturing investments did Ericsson cite in the Feb. 26, 2026 announcement (ERIC)?

Ericsson highlighted a $150 million investment in its Lewisville 5G USA Smart Factory and related production capacity. According to the company, the facility supports advanced radio manufacturing and domestic telecom supply‑chain resilience.

How many U.S. jobs does Ericsson say its Lewisville factory supports (ERIC)?

The company stated the Lewisville factory supports about 550 U.S. manufacturing jobs. According to the company, the 300,000‑square‑foot facility is highly automated and strengthens secure domestic production of 5G radios.

What use cases did Ericsson demonstrate for network‑based sensing in Plano (ERIC)?

Ericsson demonstrated drone detection, airspace safety, and potential automotive and industrial sensing use cases. According to the company, ISAC’s wide‑area network view can augment local sensors for transportation assistance and worker protection.

Does Ericsson claim the U.S. leads in ISAC technology after the Feb. 26, 2026 demo (ERIC)?

Ericsson and partners characterized the demo as showing U.S. leadership in ISAC technology and national security benefits. According to the company, the proof of concept underscores U.S. capability to advance ISAC toward commercial and defense deployments.