Turkcell and Ericsson Join Forces for 6G

Turkcell and the Ericsson Research Center have signed a new collaboration agreement on information sharing and research topics related to emerging technologies. The partnership aims to accelerate the research and development efforts in the field of 6G for the operator, contributing to Turkey’s technological advancement.

Turkcell and Ericsson have teamed up to expedite R&D activities in the 6G domain, with the goal of establishing a prominent position for Turkey in technological progress. The signing ceremony took place at the Mobile World Congress (MWC24) in Barcelona, where Prof. Dr. Vehbi Çağrı Güngör, Deputy General Manager responsible for Network Technologies at Turkcell, and Işıl Yalçın, Deputy President for the Middle East & Africa Region and General Manager for Turkey at Ericsson, came together.

According to the announcement, the agreement involves collaboration between Turkcell’s 6G laboratory and Ericsson’s Research Center in Istanbul, the only center in the Middle East and Africa Market Area (MMEA) among the company’s 16 global research centers. This collaboration aims to stimulate joint research initiatives and strengthen cooperation on national and international funded R&D projects.

The agreement also includes the exchange of significant information about emerging technologies. Ericsson Research and Turkcell, by playing a critical role in advancing Turkey’s national technology ecosystem, intend to accelerate the development and innovation of revolutionary technologies. The collaboration will focus on innovative usage scenarios in the areas of security, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the overall vision and architecture of 6G.

“We lead in innovation and development,” said Prof. Dr. Vehbi Çağrı Güngör, Deputy General Manager responsible for Network Technologies at Turkcell. He emphasized the vital role 6G will play in a completed digital transformation, promoting connectivity, and sustainability. He expressed the company’s commitment to investing in the 6G field, believing it will yield positive returns for the country. The collaboration with Ericsson marks a significant milestone in leading innovation and development in telecommunications technologies, taking into account existing ecosystems and the evolution of 5G technology.

“This collaboration is a starting point for advanced technology solutions,” commented Işıl Yalçın, Deputy President for the Middle East & Africa Region and General Manager for Turkey at Ericsson. She expressed eagerness to initiate this pioneering collaboration with Turkcell, shaping the future of telecommunications in Turkey and laying the foundation for transformative innovations. The collaboration is expected to position Turkey at the forefront of the 6G research and advanced technology solutions.

Important strides on a global scale are targeted, as indicated in the announcement. The operator, supported under the TÜBİTAK 1515 Leading R&D Laboratories Support Program, is focusing on the ‘Turkcell 6GEN Lab: Artificial Intelligence and 6G Laboratory’ project initiated last year. This project aims to develop 6G networks with artificial intelligence-based autonomous capabilities.

Meanwhile, Ericsson’s Research Center in Turkey, as a fundamental part of the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programs, supports various research and innovation activities through roles such as project partners and general project coordinators. Additionally, it plays a significant role in flagship 6G projects like Hexa-X and its second stage, Hexa-X-II.

By joining forces, Ericsson Research and Turkcell aim to support the global standardization of 6G, taking significant steps not only in national but also in international telecommunications. 6G networks, when widely adopted, have the potential to bring about radical changes in the way people live, learn, and interact. These networks open the door to new technologies that enable immersive, ubiquitous, and highly sensory digital experiences. The primary use scenarios for 6G fall into three broad categories: the Internet of Senses, connected smart machines, and a connected sustainable world.

Kaynak: IHA