HONG KONG –
Ericsson, working with Far EasTone and OPPO, has validated an AI-driven 5G Standalone (5G SA) ecosystem that couples programmable network slicing with on-device AI to deliver on-demand, performance-guaranteed connectivity during high-density events; the demonstration – validated at a 40,000‑person concert in Taipei and slated for public demonstration at Mobile World Congress 2026 – positions 5G SA as a commercial lever for communications service providers to sell differentiated, experience‑based services.
This validation shows the technical path by which network operators can convert capacity and quality improvements into discrete, monetizable performance tiers by exposing network functions via standardized APIs and combining them with device-side intelligence. The solution validated application-level User Equipment Route Selection Policy (URSP), layered API architectures, and on-device AI that detects in‑app degradation and triggers URSP‑based slicing to secure radio resources for targeted applications.
Network validation and commercial mechanics
The Taipei Dome deployment delivered sustained user performance under extreme load – enabling seamless live streaming and low‑latency interactions during peak traffic – and illustrates a model for B2B2C revenue flows: service providers can offer in‑app, on‑demand connectivity upgrades; developers can package premium experiences; and device makers can enable the client‑side intelligence required to trigger network actions. Ericsson frames the effort as proof that 5G SA and network slicing, combined with Cloud Core Exposure interfaces, can be operationalized at scale. The joint demonstration will be showcased at Mobile World Congress 2026.
“Far EasTone and Ericsson have been long-standing partners, working closely to continuously enhance the network experience for our users. We are pleased to collaborate with OPPO to validate an innovative differentiated connectivity service in a large-scale concert environment by enabling customized 5G connectivity with lower latency and higher efficiency. We will continue to deliver more advanced and high-quality 5G services for Far EasTone users.” – Chee Ching, President of Far EasTone
The technical combination used in Taipei places emphasis on three commercial levers: programmable RAN and core functions that permit rapid reconfiguration, edge compute (for low‑latency paths and localized UPF scaling), and network exposure that allows selected partners to consume capabilities securely. Those levers map directly to pricing constructs – short‑term performance boosts, event‑specific connectivity bundles and enterprise service‑level agreements – that operators have sought to test since the arrival of network slicing in 5G SA architectures.
SmarTone’s procurement and regional rollout
Separately, SmarTone has contracted Ericsson to supply 5G‑Advanced (5G‑A) technology to upgrade its Hong Kong network, selecting a suite that includes AIR 3255 massive MIMO radios, triple‑band macro radios, and Ericsson’s Local Packet Gateway and Cloud Core Exposure Server to enable edge services, geographic redundancy and partner‑facing APIs. The agreement frames programmability, AI and intent‑driven automation as central to SmarTone’s strategy to convert capacity gains into revenue while lowering operating costs.
Ericsson’s radio hardware in the package is presented as next‑generation kit that targets lower energy consumption and reduced embodied carbon versus predecessors; the vendor cites the AIR 3255 model’s material gains in energy and CO2 intensity as part of the procurement rationale. SmarTone’s stated technical objective is to expose selected network capabilities to partners – for enterprise fixed wireless access (FWA), location‑based services and differentiated consumer packages – while supporting flexible UPF configurations for high‑availability edge services.
SmarTone is a publicly listed Hong Kong operator and a unit of a major local property group; the operator has positioned 5G home broadband and IoT for enterprises among its priority revenue streams as it pursues a more programmable network foundation.
- Feb. 3-4, 2026 – SmarTone announces selection of Ericsson 5G‑Advanced technology for Hong Kong network strengthening and programmability initiatives.
- Feb. 6, 2026 – Ericsson, Far EasTone and OPPO publish validation of an AI‑driven 5G SA differentiated‑connectivity ecosystem tested during a 40,000‑person Taipei Dome concert; demonstration to appear at Mobile World Congress 2026.
- Feb. 13, 2025 – Earlier Far EasTone-Ericsson differentiated‑connectivity trials at a major Taipei concert provided precedent for the 2026 validation and informed API and automation choices now being commercialized.
Market, policy and operational implications
For vendors, the twin developments reinforce product roadmaps that bundle RAN, core and exposure interfaces with AI‑powered automation; commercial success depends on operator willingness to expose network capabilities to third parties and to implement billing and policy systems that map transient performance to revenue. For operators, the case for 5G‑A and SA is shifting from headline throughput to differentiated experience delivery – a change that requires integration of device OEMs, app developers and billing/clearing partners as well as internal risk, compliance and privacy teams.
Regionally, the SmarTone contract and the Taiwan validation contribute to Ericsson’s momentum in Asia Pacific programmable‑network projects and add to its deployed base of autonomous and edge‑enabled network initiatives in the region; the wins also come as the vendor manages currency and regional revenue swings in Northeast Asia, factors that inform commercial prioritization across contracts and may influence where early differentiated‑connectivity offers are launched.
Regulatory and governance considerations center on API exposure, location data usage and monetization models tied to personal‑data processing. In both Taiwan and Hong Kong, any commercial roll‑out that leverages device location or SIM‑based transactions will be tested against modern privacy and telecom regimes, including Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation where multinational customers or data flows are involved. The technical builds use standardized API frameworks and operator‑controlled exposure servers intended to limit partner access to selected capabilities, but boards and regulators are likely to scrutinize how operators implement consent, purpose limitation and audit trails in differentiated‑connectivity offers.
Commercial status and next steps
Ericsson has indicated the joint Far EasTone-OPPO validation will be presented at Mobile World Congress 2026 as a working demonstration of an end‑to‑end 5G SA differentiated‑connectivity model. SmarTone’s procurement includes deployment of AIR 3255 massive MIMO radios, triple‑band macro radios and Ericsson’s Local Packet Gateway, with network exposure services to be enabled for partner trials as the operator integrates edge UPFs and policy controls.
For policymakers and institutional buyers, the two announcements offer an early view of how 5G‑A and SA architectures could underpin tiered quality‑of‑service products, event‑based connectivity guarantees and enterprise‑grade SLAs. GlobalHeadlinez has embedded corporate background links for readers: Ericsson’s investor information and SmarTone’s corporate profile.
