Ericsson, a Sweden-based telecommunications company that develops and supplies mobile network infrastructure, software, and services for operators worldwide, has announced a live proof of concept of its ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication) technology at the company’s U.S. Headquarters in Plano, Texas. The proof of concept centered on drone detection using Ericsson’s massive-MIMO radios, demonstrating the network’s ability to track unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within surrounding airspace.
The proof of concept highlights ongoing ISAC development in the United States. ISAC enables use cases across commercial, public safety, and defense scenarios, including applications such as autonomous systems and drone operations. In defense contexts, it adds sensing capabilities within existing network infrastructure.
ISAC integrates sensing and spatial location of passive (not connected) objects into the mobile communication network, extending network functionality beyond connectivity by enabling detection and characterization of objects and movement using existing infrastructure. The capability is progressing in 3GPP with initial studies in Release 19 and is expected to form part of early 6G standardization.
“ISAC represents a transformative leap forward, merging advanced communications and sensing capabilities into a unified platform,” said Dr. Tom Rondeau, Principal Director for the DoW’s FutureG Office. “By using communication signals to sense the physical world in real-time, ISAC gives wireless networks a new dimension of environmental awareness, enabling groundbreaking applications that advance both U.S. national security and commercial interests, and solidifying America’s leadership in the race to 6G.”
“Today, we showed how ISAC can unlock a new class of applications – from safer skies to smarter cities – by introducing a powerful new sensing platform as an added layer to the existing telecom network,” said Yossi Cohen, President and CEO of Ericsson Americas. “By transforming deployed radio sites and spectrum to support both communications and sensing, we give networks the ability to truly perceive their surroundings. We can introduce these capabilities efficiently and responsibly, accelerating time to value for operators and their customers. As a trusted supplier and long-term partner worldwide, Ericsson brings the scale, reliability, and security to help service providers realize these benefits from day one.”
During the proof of concept, Ericsson engineers demonstrated how network-based sensing supports use cases such as drone detection and airspace safety. The company is also exploring sensing applications in automotive and transportation assistance, as well as industrial automation and worker protection. 3GPP studies on ISAC have begun, with the technology expected to become part of the 6G era.