Trends
SoftBank 5G network upgrade in new Ericsson deal
SoftBank 5G network upgrade advances with Ericsson deal, boosting coverage, efficiency and AI‑powered standalone 5G expansion.
Headline
SoftBank 5G network upgrade advances with Ericsson deal, boosting coverage, efficiency and AI‑powered standalone 5G expansion.
Context
• Ericsson will supply its latest RAN hardware across low, mid and high‑band frequencies to SoftBank in key Japanese regions. • The upgrade focuses on energy savings, AI‑enabled baseband compute and expanded standalone 5G coverage.
Evidence
Pending intelligence enrichment.
Analysis
SoftBank Corp announced on 31 July 2025 that it has signed a fresh commercial agreement with Ericsson to upgrade its 4G and 5G networks . Under the deal, Ericsson will deliver its Ericsson Radio System products—including the lightweight Massive MIMO AIR 3255 and the ultra‑wideband AIR 6476 radios—for deployment across Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Hokuriku, Tokai and parts of Kansai in Japan . SoftBank will also roll out Ericsson’s next‑generation RAN Compute baseband units, powered by Ericsson Silicon and the Many‑Core Architecture (EMCA), enabling real‑time AI workloads at the baseband layer for improved parallel processing, spectrum utilisation and energy efficiency . According to CTO Hideyuki Tsukuda, the operator is concentrating on expanding 5G standalone (SA) deployment and embedding AI throughout network operations to elevate user experience for both enterprise and consumer clients . Ericsson’s market‑area head, Chafic Nassif, added that the agreement aligns with Japan’s broader digitalisation agenda and SoftBank’s “Beyond Carrier” ambitions. Also read: Telstra and Ericsson launch programmable 5G network Also read: O2 Germany expands rural 5G coverage
Key Points
- What happened：Multi‑regional 5G network overhaul
- Why it’s important
Actions
Pending intelligence enrichment.
