Magnus Ewerbring, Chief Technology Officer for Asia Pacific at Ericsson, expressed optimism about the bright future of the telecommunications sector in China, citing operators’ ability to leverage the vast potential of the domestic market while continuing to provide top-tier 5G coverage. Speaking to Xinhua at the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain, Ewerbring stated, “I am quite optimistic about China.” He highlighted China’s advanced strides in implementing 5G technology across various sectors, including manufacturing, suggesting that other operators worldwide could draw valuable inspiration from China’s initiatives.
Ericsson, the Swedish telecommunications giant operating in China since the 1890s, is headquartered in Beijing, with operations in cities like Nanjing, Shanghai, Dalian, Xi’an, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. The company has also signed 5G contracts with China’s three major telecommunications companies: China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom.
Ewerbring emphasized Ericsson’s commitment to continuing the transformation of 5G to meet the needs of the Chinese market and eventually transitioning to 6G. However, he noted that the exact timing and methods of the anticipated technological leap towards 6G, an extension of 5G cellular technology, remain uncertain.
Regarding 6G, Ewerbring remarked, “We really don’t know right now. It’s too early to say.” He explained that evaluating technologies and identifying the right products take time, estimating that this process would continue from 2025 to 2029.
The issue of 5G connectivity, along with the use of artificial intelligence in the mobile industry, was a focal point of this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which hosted approximately 2,400 participants from around the world.
Ewerbring stressed the importance of reliable and sensible support from artificial intelligence. He stated, “Artificial intelligence support must be reliable and sensible. Only then can we see how we can achieve many benefits. AI-based optimization can provide better performance to consumers while improving performance.”
Furthermore, Ewerbring highlighted Ericsson’s exhibition of numerous experiences gained from collaborating with operators in China and elsewhere globally, expressing hopes that this information could provide valuable incentives to national operators in China.