United States

Verizon plans 2026 nationwide rollout of Ericsson controller for radio network automation

An AI application showed performance gains in a field deployment. Those figures do not yet describe a completed nationwide rollout.

Verizon plans to deploy the Ericsson Intelligent Controller (EIC) across the United States in 2026. The platform runs automation applications for 4G and 5G radio access networks. The November 3 announcement extends the companies’ collaboration; it does not say the nationwide installation is already complete. [1]

In a field deployment, an application that shapes Massive MIMO antenna coverage delivered gains of up to 8.9% in downlink throughput and 8% in uplink throughput, according to Ericsson and Verizon. These are results from that deployment, not measured improvement across the entire network or a guarantee for every customer. [1][2]

The controller can run network applications called rApps, which analyze conditions and automate changes. Verizon also described a handover function between LTE and standalone 5G for fixed wireless access devices, reducing manual intervention after failures. The carrier plans to test and deploy other applications; it has not specified final coverage or published national results. [1][2]

SDxCentral, a separately owned newsroom, placed the plan in Verizon’s automation strategy, but its performance figures originate in the companies’ announcement. The archive photo shows Verizon antennas in Arlington, Massachusetts, in 2021; it does not identify the controller or the test site. [2]

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