- Three-year agreement will upgrade radio access and core networks while improving coverage and reliability.
- The modernisation aims to support 5G Advanced services and reduce radio network energy use by up to 35%.
What happened
Taiwanese telecoms operator Far EasTone has signed a three-year agreement with Ericsson to upgrade its radio access network (RAN) and core infrastructure. The deal aims to increase network capacity, coverage and reliability while improving energy efficiency.
The programme will modernise Far EasTone’s network architecture and expand Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G core across additional sites. It also includes migration of subscriber data into a new system using Ericsson’s cloud data storage tools.
A central focus of the upgrade is improving spectral efficiency through spectrum refarming and network optimisation. This will allow the operator to extend 5G coverage and boost performance without acquiring additional spectrum.
The partnership also introduces greater automation. Far EasTone plans to trial Ericsson’s Intelligent Automation Platform and AI-driven rApps to improve RAN operations and network performance. The companies say the upgrade will also deliver energy savings of up to 35% in the radio network.
The improvements are intended to support the operator’s move towards 5G Advanced and build a foundation for future AI-driven services.
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Why this is important
The agreement highlights how mobile operators are shifting investment towards software-driven network upgrades rather than simply adding more spectrum or hardware. By improving spectral efficiency and automation, operators can support growing data demand while controlling costs and energy use.
For Far EasTone, the upgrade is also a step towards its long-term goal of building more autonomous networks capable of supporting AI-heavy workloads and enterprise applications. AI-enabled automation can reduce manual network management while improving performance and reliability.
The move also reflects a broader industry transition towards 5G Advanced, an evolution of current 5G technology expected to deliver better uplink performance, improved quality-of-service controls and enhanced support for network slicing. These capabilities are increasingly important as enterprises deploy applications such as industrial automation, immersive media and edge computing.
Ericsson’s involvement reinforces its role as a major infrastructure partner in Asia’s competitive telecoms markets. Vendors such as Ericsson, Nokia and Huawei are competing to provide the programmable networks needed to support the next wave of digital services.
For operators, modernising networks today also helps prepare infrastructure for the next generation of connectivity. Many industry players expect early commercial 6G deployments around the end of the decade, meaning investments in automation, AI and efficient spectrum use are becoming critical stepping stones toward that future.
