Ericsson says AI can lift 5G network performance by 25-30%

TL;DR

• Ericsson said on October 11, 2026 that telecom operators can improve existing 5G network performance by 25-30% using AI.
• Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden said much of the equipment Ericsson supplied in 2025 and 2026 already supports AI features through software upgrades.
• Ekudden said operators do not need to wait for GPUs or 6G to begin adding AI in the RAN, although newer hardware will still be needed later for some 6G capabilities and frequency bands.

Ericsson said on October 11, 2026 that telecom operators can improve the performance of existing 5G networks by 25-30% using artificial intelligence without necessarily adding new hardware. Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden said the gains can come from software running on installed equipment.

Ekudden said a large proportion of the equipment Ericsson supplied in 2025 and 2026 is already capable of supporting AI features. He said customers do not necessarily face an additional hardware cost because the capability is part of Ericsson products already sold, and that operators do not need to wait for GPUs or 6G to start seeing gains.

Ekudden said operators can introduce AI capabilities progressively into existing networks through software, with the scope of upgrades depending on the age of the installed equipment and the features they want to deploy. He added that software upgrades still need to be procured and deployed, while newer hardware will eventually be required for additional frequency bands and other capabilities linked to 6G.

Ekudden said there is no need to wait for 6G to introduce AI in the RAN or to begin moving toward autonomous networks. He also said India could become an early 6G adopter in 2029 or 2030 if the device ecosystem matures.