Ericsson, in collaboration with the Italian Navy and international defense company Leonardo, successfully conducted a maritime connectivity trial utilizing an Ericsson 5G standalone (5G SA) system.

Comprising Ericsson's Ultra Compact Core, a pre-configured 5G network solution designed for defense-based operations, as well as massive multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) offerings from the vendor, the self-contained end-to-end 5G SA network was installed aboard the Italian Navy’s amphibious assault ship San Giorgio. The ship acted as the lead vessel during a recent test campaign of the Italian Navy open-sea Operational Experimentation (OPEX Task 2-25).

Ericsson’s 5G SA customer premises equipment (CPE) was installed aboard a second Italian Navy vessel, the multipurpose combat ship Raimondo Montecuccoli.

In collaboration as part of the European Defence Fund 5G Communications for Peacekeeping and Defence 2.0 project, the project’s results were showcased during the Italian Navy’s OPEX 2-25 exercise in the Gulf of Taranto, as leveraging encryption technology from Leonardo. According to Ericsson, the trial enabled secure, real-time exchange of both classified and unclassified data between the San Giorgio and the Raimondo Montecuccoli. This data included complete situational awareness from the combat management system and live video feeds from 12 unmanned platforms processed through a central AI platform.

The OPEX reportedly validated the performance, security, and resilience of 5G SA for on-board connected systems, while also demonstrating how a unified 5G network can enhance spectrum efficiency compared to multiple standalone communication systems operating over unlicensed and potentially overlapping bands which are susceptible to interference.

A similar endeavor saw Ericsson collaborate with the Italian Navy as part of 2024 NATO trials, when another end-to-end 5G SA network was installed in the Italian Naval base at Taranto.

Commenting on the project, Freddie Södergren, head of mission critical networks, Ericsson, said: "This successful trial with Leonardo and the Italian Navy represents a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to advancing defense capabilities through 5G technology. As an integral part of Ericsson's defense portfolio, our 5G platform is designed to meet the rigorous demands of the sector. This collaboration not only demonstrates the versatility of dual-use 5G in critical operations, but also highlights how enhanced connectivity at sea can significantly strengthen naval communications and operational effectiveness."

The Swedish giant last month launched 5G-Advanced location services, which rely on a 5G SA core and tech embedded in a single base station to help pinpoint a device’s location without using traditional triangulation models, helping reduce broader compute resource needs.