Verizon and Ericsson Accelerate 6G Development with World's First Outdoor 6G Field Call

The completed field validation moves joint 6G work beyond laboratory integration, while commercial service remains outside this demonstration.

Rhea-AI Summary

Verizon (VZ) and Ericsson (ERIC) completed a pre-standard 6G outdoor field call using 7 GHz spectrum at Verizon’s commercial site in Concord, California. Ericsson’s proof-of-concept equipment was deployed and test validation completed, moving the work from laboratory integration into a real-world setting.

The confirmed result was an outdoor call; the broader testing examines outdoor performance and signals passing into buildings. This remains an early demonstration before official standards are finalized, not a commercial 6G service launch. Both companies plan to continue analyzing results for future research, testing and deployment planning.

Positive

• Minor pointEricsson’s proof-of-concept equipment completed deployment and field validation with Verizon through a 7 GHz outdoor call.
• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Verizon and Ericsson plan continued field-result analysis to inform future 6G research, testing and deployment planning.

Negative

• Minor pointPre-standard proof-of-concept status means the milestone is not a commercial 6G service launch.

Key Figures

Field-call frequency: 7 GHz Carrier bandwidth: 400 MHz

Field-call frequency

7 GHz

First pre-standard 6G field call

Carrier bandwidth

400 MHz

Pre-standard 6G stack

Key Terms

pre-standard, line-of-sight, non-line-of-sight, throughput, +1 more

5 terms

pre-standard technical

"using a pre-standard 6G stack with a 400 MHz carrier"

A pre-standard is a draft, provisional, or preparatory specification, practice, or set of requirements that exists before an official standard is finalized or formally adopted by a standards body or regulator. It is used for testing, consultation, pilot implementations, or to signal intended future rules, but it is not authoritative—requirements, tests, or language in a pre-standard can change and usually cannot be relied on as proof of formal compliance or certification.

line-of-sight technical

"including line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight paths"

Line-of-sight describes a clear, direct connection between a company's current position and a stated goal — for example revenue, regulatory approval, or product launch — supported by identifiable steps, milestones and evidence that make that outcome seem attainable. For investors it matters because it reduces uncertainty and helps judge credibility: like seeing a mapped route on a trip, a company with line-of-sight makes it easier to assess the chances of reaching its target and to value the business accordingly.

non-line-of-sight technical

"including line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight paths"

Non-line-of-sight describes a situation where a signal, sensor, or communication cannot travel directly in a straight line between sender and receiver because an obstacle blocks the path, so it must bend, reflect, or be relayed around the obstruction. For investors, it matters because products or networks that can handle non-line-of-sight conditions are more reliable and valuable in real-world settings (like urban or indoor environments), affecting adoption, performance claims, and deployment costs.

throughput technical

"characterizes coverage, throughput, latency, stability and feature behavior"

Throughput is the amount of stuff, like products or data, that a system can handle or move through in a certain period of time. For example, a factory’s throughput is how many items it produces each hour, and it matters because higher throughput usually means things are running efficiently and meeting demand quickly.

latency technical

"characterizes coverage, throughput, latency, stability and feature behavior"

Latency is the time delay between when information or an instruction is created and when it is received, processed, or acted on by a market system or data feed. For investors, that delay can alter the price you receive, cause missed trading opportunities, or increase execution risk — like sending a text to buy an item and the seller acting a few seconds later after the price has changed.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

• First 7 GHz pre-standard 6G call completed at Verizon's Concord, California commercial site
• This field validation explores outdoor performance and outside-to-indoor coverage

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) today announced a global first: successfully completing the first pre-standard 6G field call in the 7 GHz from a Verizon commercial network site in Concord, California. The Ericsson 6G proof-of-concept kit was fully deployed at the site, and test validation was completed, moving 6G from lab integration into a real-world environment where performance can be assessed both outdoors and as signals move from outside in through buildings.

"As a founding member of the Verizon 6G Innovation Forum, Ericsson plays a vital role in our shared mission to build an open, diversified ecosystem and move 6G from theoretical research into practical, real-world reality," says Yago Tenorio, Chief Technology Officer and SVP of Technology Development at Verizon. "This outdoor 6G milestone demonstrates how close industry collaboration helps us generate the key technical insights needed to shape global standards and understand how future 6G networks could be designed, deployed and experienced."

"Today's announcement is another validation of Verizon's leadership on the path to 6G," says Hannes Ekström, Head of Customer Unit Verizon at Ericsson. "These are the field learnings that can help turn the promise of 6G into deployable technology and, over time, unlock new possibilities for highly responsive, intelligent and immersive connectivity."

A field test built for real-world learning 

The Ericsson 6G proof-of-concept equipment is installed at Verizon's commercial site in Concord, California. The base station is installed separately in the site shelter, while the user equipment is in a small house on wheels – an approximately 12-by-8-foot enclosure that supports stationary outdoor and indoor radio configurations. It includes dedicated power and battery backup, with varied wall and window materials to enable differentiated testing of indoor coverage, using a pre-standard 6G stack with a 400 MHz carrier. 

This achievement is not only an indoor penetration test: the confirmed field result is an outdoor call, while the broader proof-of-concept examines how 6G performance carries from open air into indoor spaces. Testing characterizes coverage, throughput, latency, stability and feature behavior under realistic conditions, including line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight paths, foliage, obstacles and outside-in penetration through different glass and building materials.

Continuing the path to 6G

The milestone is a pre-standard proof-of-concept demonstration and is not a commercial 6G service launch. Verizon and Ericsson will continue analyzing field results and applying the learnings to future 6G research, testing, and deployment planning. Over time, 6G is expected to bring more programmable, responsive and context-aware connectivity, potentially enabling new experiences and use cases across immersive communications, AI-native services, industrial automation and robotics. Pre-standard 6G refers to early stage 6G innovations that are being developed and tested before official standards are finalized.

6G - Follow the journey to the next generation networks - Ericsson

FOLLOW US:

Subscribe to Ericsson press releases here
Subscribe to Ericsson blog posts here
https://x.com/ericsson
https://www.facebook.com/ericsson
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ericsson

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.

Nathan Gibson - Director, Communications, Americas - Ericsson - 647-554-1423

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/verizon-and-ericsson-accelerate-6g-development-with-worlds-first-outdoor-6g-field-call-302909232.html

SOURCE Ericsson

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did Verizon and Ericsson demonstrate in their 6G field test?

Verizon and Ericsson completed a pre-standard 6G outdoor field call in 7 GHz at Verizon’s commercial network site in Concord, California. The confirmed result was an outdoor call, while the broader proof-of-concept also examines how signals travel from outdoor areas into buildings.

What conditions are Verizon and Ericsson examining in their 6G field testing?

The testing examines coverage, throughput, latency, stability and feature behavior under realistic conditions. These include direct and obstructed signal paths, foliage, obstacles, and signal penetration through different glass and building materials.