Verizon and Ericsson Complete First Outdoor 6G Call

The telecommunications companies tested 6G technology at a commercial site in Concord, California.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Telecommunications

Verizon and Ericsson Complete First Outdoor 6G Call

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Verizon and Ericsson successfully completed an outdoor 6G field call using pre-standard equipment in the 7 GHz band. The trial utilized a 400 MHz carrier to evaluate signal coverage, latency, and throughput.

Why it matters

This test serves as a foundational step toward next-generation connectivity, although commercial deployment of 6G remains years away. The results help evaluate outdoor performance and signal penetration into indoor environments.

The field test utilized a 400 MHz carrier operating within the 7 GHz band to measure signal metrics. The trial deployed an Ericsson 6G proof-of-concept kit at a live commercial network site.

The players

Verizon

Verizon is a multinational telecommunications conglomerate that provides wireless network and data services.

Ericsson

Ericsson is a Swedish networking and telecommunications company that designs and builds infrastructure for mobile operators.

3GPP

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project is a global consortium that develops technical specifications for telecommunications networks.

The details

The test examined how 6G technology handles outdoor performance and signal penetration from outside to inside a structure. Verizon has also established a 6G Innovation Forum to coordinate development with partners including Samsung, Nokia, Meta, and Qualcomm.

October 1-14, 2026: Ericsson daily short-sale ratios ranged from 0.459 to 0.858.
October 14, 2026: The daily short-sale ratio for Ericsson reached 0.702.
October 15, 2026: Verizon and Ericsson announced the completion of the outdoor 6G field call.

The Tech Race

This test demonstrates an industry shift toward validating hardware ahead of finalized international standards, positioning participants to lead the future network market. It follows a pattern of iterative development used to evolve from 4G to 5G infrastructure.

While this test demonstrates potential future capabilities, there is no immediate change to current mobile data speeds or consumer device requirements. Users will not see changes in connectivity until the technology matures and reaches commercial deployment.

The takeaway

This field call signals that telecommunications infrastructure development is actively moving into the 6G testing phase. While the trial shows promising data, consumers should expect years of continued development before these signals reach personal smartphones.