January 11, 2017, 11:00 (CET)

• Ericsson and China Mobile sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on Cloud RAN

• Cloud RAN is a key facilitator on network evolution towards 5G

• China Mobile is the world's largest mobile operator by number of subscribers

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Mobile Research Institute (CMRI), the research division of China Mobile, to initiate the collaborative research and development of Cloud RAN.

China Mobile, the world's largest mobile operator by number of subscribers, has been accelerating investment on both 4G LTE rollout and 5G exploration. Cloud RAN is perceived as a key facilitator on the network evolution from 4G towards 5G.

In accordance with the MoU, the cooperation between China Mobile and Ericsson is set to a two-year duration for Cloud RAN, that includes:

• Unify the understanding of Cloud RAN and jointly define Cloud RAN use cases

• Joint research of the key technologies related to Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) based Cloud RAN, the construction of the Cloud RAN architecture for future 5G use cases, and towards the standardization of the related interfaces and capability

• Joint effort to drive the readiness of the Cloud RAN ecosystem

Chris Houghton, Head of Region North East Asia, Ericsson, says:

"I am glad that Ericsson, as strategic partner of China Mobile, join hands with China Mobile on various 5G cooperation. More technique fruitifications we believe will be achieved through close cooperation. Ericsson aim to collaborate with China Mobile to drive 5G evolvement to reach the full potential of Networked Society".

Ericsson is leading the way toward 5G, with technology development including deploying the world's first 5G testbed and the world's first 5G NR radio. Across 5G research and development, the company already has more than 27 operator MoUs, partnerships with 12 industry players as well as more than 20 research institutes and universities.