Ericsson Ends mmWave Production in Lewisville
The Texas factory no longer makes mmWave radio products as Ericsson consolidates that work at its Estonia site.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Manufacturing
Live Poll
Do you think companies moving manufacturing overseas is bad for American workers?
Ericsson has ceased manufacturing mmWave radio products at its Lewisville, Texas factory and consolidated production at its Estonia manufacturing site. The Lewisville plant, opened in 2020 to serve US customers, had been a source of domestic 5G equipment.
Why it matters
The shift runs counter to recent pressure for domestic production and comes as tariffs have made local manufacturing a business imperative. It affects roughly 500 employees at the Lewisville facility and the supply of mmWave equipment for US networks.
Ericsson invested $150 million in its Lewisville, Texas factory, which employs about 500 people, before ceasing mmWave production there. The extraction does not disclose how Estonia output compares with the former Texas volume, or what happens to the remaining Lewisville workforce.
The players
Ericsson
Ericsson is a Swedish telecommunications equipment maker that supplies radio and 5G network infrastructure to carriers worldwide.
Verizon
Verizon is a major US wireless carrier that was the first to receive a 5G basestation from the Lewisville plant.
Dan Schulman
Dan Schulman is Verizon's chief executive who referenced a mmWave technological breakthrough during a recent investor call.
The details
Ericsson moved mmWave radio manufacturing from its 5G smart factory in Lewisville to its Estonia facility, citing customer requirements, demand and operational efficiency. The company described the change as part of its continuous adaptation of its global manufacturing footprint.
Timeline
Ericsson opened the Lewisville, Texas factory in 2020.
Tariffs imposed last year made local US manufacturing a business imperative.
Light Reading reported the mmWave production shift to Estonia on November 7, 2026.
Market Landscape
Pressure from the first and second Trump administrations pushed Ericsson and Nokia to expand US production, making the Lewisville consolidation to Estonia a notable reversal. The move shows how tariffs and policy incentives are competing with cost and operational efficiency in 5G equipment supply chains.
Lewisville residents working at the Ericsson plant face uncertainty about their roles after mmWave production ended there. Consumers and carriers relying on US-built mmWave equipment may see supply implications as production moves abroad.
The takeaway
Factory location decisions reflect a tension between policy pressure for domestic output and the cost and efficiency gains of consolidated overseas production. Watching how tariffs and operational choices play out will show which pull proves stronger in the sector.
Further reading
For more on factory shifts like this, see Manufacturing coverage for Lewisville.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ETTelecom.
Live Poll
Do you think companies moving manufacturing overseas is bad for American workers?
