Wind Tre and Ericsson switch on first 5G standalone network in Italy

• Wind Tre and Ericsson demonstrate their commitment to the digitalization of the country
• This deployment will transform key industries such as events, healthcare and manufacturing by enabling faster connectivity, real-time data processing, and enhanced automation.  
• Wind Tre is introducing a new network slicing service also intended for small and medium-sized businesses

Wind Tre and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) have switched on first 5G Standalone (5G SA) mobile service in Italy, marking a milestone in the digitalization of the country.

The deployment of the first 5G Standalone network in Italy marks a transformative milestone, utilizing a fully 5G-native infrastructure without relying on 4G elements. Powered by Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core solution, this network is designed not only to massively scale and support the expected growth of IoT devices but also to enhance other critical service areas.

Beyond improving consumer connectivity, 5G SA introduces advanced capabilities such as low latency, increased reliability, enhanced security, and the ability to support differentiated service offerings and mission-critical applications for enterprises and public administration. This is essential for strategic sectors such as manufacturing, transport, logistics, utilities, healthcare, and public safety.

Thanks to the network slicing feature, it also enables a new generation of high-performance use cases, including: secure communications and advanced Push-to-Talk; augmented reality for industrial maintenance; reliable digital payments (POS); healthcare devices and real-time clinical data exchange; audio-video services for media and entertainment.

To meet the growing needs of the business market, alongside WindTre’s Mobile Private Networks offering - tailor-made solutions that require significant infrastructure investments and are primarily designed for large enterprises – the operator is introducing a new network slicing service also intended for small and medium-sized businesses. Network slicing allows portions of the public 5G network to be dedicated to specific use cases, creating virtual Private Networks at a cost point accessible even to smaller businesses. It provides the performance required by business-critical applications - such as controlled latency and stable connectivity - without the investment, deployment time, or operational burden of building and managing a private infrastructure.

Carlo Melis, CTO of WindTre, said: “5G Standalone represents a true next-generation mobile network, natively designed and completely independent from 4G, to deliver advanced services in security, reliability, and scalability. At WindTre, we chose to lead this transformation by launching in Italy a network tailored for the digitalization of businesses and public administration. The real paradigm shift lies in network slicing: the ability to dedicate portions of the public network to specific use cases, moving beyond the concept of peak speed and introducing guaranteed performance, controlled latency, and connection stability. This new network acts as a customized platform, adapting to the needs of digital services and becoming a concrete enabler for strategic sectors such as industry, transportation, healthcare, logistics, utilities, and media. We are delighted to have collaborated with Ericsson in making this vision a reality, combining technological excellence and innovation to deliver a cutting-edge solution for the Italian market.”

Alessio Petreschi, General Manager and Head of Sales, Northern Italy, Ericsson, said: “Introducing 5G Standalone marks a turning point for Italy’s digital journey and a new chapter in our long-standing partnership with WindTre. A fully 5G-native core network isn’t just ”another G”, it represents is the foundation for going beyond best-effort connectivity and delivering guaranteed performance, security and reliability at scale. This is what enables service providers to create new value for industries, enterprises and public services, enabling innovative use cases, new revenue models and a superior experience for end users throughout Italy.”

Leveraging Ericsson’s 5G Standalone Core solution, WindTre has already demonstrated the potential of the technology by deploying a dedicated network slice for the live video production of a major sports event in Italy. Mobile cameras connected via the 5G SA network delivered high-definition footage to the control room with stable, high performance even in the presence of more than 90,000 spectators. This showcases the transformative potential of 5G SA for broadcasting, mobility, safety, and live entertainment.

The transition to 5G Standalone also paves the way for new solutions based on artificial intelligence, network automation, advanced slicing, and programmable APIs, enabling a new generation of digital services for citizens and businesses.