Swedish telecom equipment manufacturer Ericsson, in collaboration with Microsoft and Thales, has joined forces with telecom giants SoftBank, T-Mobile, and Telia Sweden to empower 5G Windows 11 computers with advanced features such as zero-touch provisioning and automated eSIM profile management. Ericsson’s Ericsson Virtual Cellular Network (EVCN) solutions automate eSIM profile management, granting enterprises control over the ordering, downloading, and activation of multiple eSIM profiles on 5G Windows 11 PCs. Leveraging the Windows 11 operating system (OS) capabilities for eSIM profile selection and automatic network switching, 5G connections are established automatically based on enterprise policies, eliminating the need for end-user intervention, as explained by Ericsson.
The consortium conducted 5G laptop connectivity trials across Japan, the United States, and Sweden, where SoftBank, T-Mobile, and Telia provided cellular connectivity, respectively. Microsoft Intune mobile device manager facilitated the bulk activation of eSIM profile groups with local 5G connectivity tailored to employee demographics and data usage. Successful demonstrations of automatic network switching between the Telia, T-Mobile, and SoftBank networks were carried out as employees traveled between Stockholm, New York, Seattle, and Tokyo.
The trial extended to include eSIM management of a private 5G network in Ericsson’s D-15 lab in Santa Clara using Thales’ eSIM-as-a-Service (eSaaS). Automatic network switching between private and public 5G networks was also showcased on laptops as employees transitioned between the coverage areas of the private and public networks. Eva Rudin, Thales Vice President of Mobile Connectivity Solutions, highlighted the smooth and secure connection facilitated by Thales’ “eSIM-as-a-Service” technology, offering enterprises a seamless process to order and configure eSIMs through an intuitive web interface.
Mats Hultin, CIO and Head of Ericsson Enterprise IT, emphasized the strategic significance of EVCN in steering the transition from conventional fixed enterprise connectivity solutions towards a more scalable, global 5G infrastructure in collaboration with operators. Ryuji Wakikawa, Vice President and Head of the Research Institute of Advanced Technology at SoftBank Corp., underscored the transformative potential of EVCN in modernizing work styles through 5G, enabling enterprises to implement AI workflows with enhanced security. He expressed SoftBank’s commitment to collaborating with Ericsson to commercialize new 5G enterprise services using EVCN.
