Ericsson and Orange France have set out a new round of 5G RAN trials in France, launching a coordinated program to test radio access network technologies under real network conditions. The companies said the initiative will support a more flexible and efficient 5G environment, with the 5G RAN trials in France designed to explore improvements that can be scaled across Orange’s footprint. The effort is anchored in Ericsson’s RAN portfolio and reflects joint ambitions to strengthen network performance and sustainability.
The operators plan to run a sequence of experimental deployments as part of Orange France’s preparation for its next phases of RAN evolution. These trials will enable the carrier to assess how emerging radio technologies behave in the field, including those aimed at boosting spectral efficiency and tightening automation. According to Ericsson, the work is intended to “enhance spectral efficiency, accelerate network automation, and promote sustainability across mobile networks.” Orange France will feed results from these evaluations into its long-term RAN roadmap as it pursues higher levels of network autonomy for customers across the country.
A major focus of the program is the pilot of Ericsson’s FDD Massive MIMO antenna-integrated radios. Orange intends to use the tests to determine how well the radios can optimize existing spectrum resources with high-traffic demand. Multiple deployment scenarios will be examined to “precisely adapt to various traffic profiles and maximize spectral efficiency, capacity, and user experience.” Alongside performance testing, the partners will also collaborate on energy-efficiency measures across Orange’s mobile networks.
Commenting on the partnership, Emmanuel Lugagne Delpon, CTO of networks at Orange France, said: “Our strategic partnership with Ericsson is accelerating our journey towards enhanced networks for our customers. By leveraging breakthrough spectrum, sustainable technologies, and cloud-native solutions, Orange is working to advance its autonomous networks journey and deliver the best 5G experience,”
In parallel with the RAN work, the companies have opened a two-year program to examine Cloud RAN and Open RAN architectures. Both organizations say these approaches enable more adaptable, software-driven networks capable of supporting faster innovation.