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HPE and Ericsson Open Joint Lab to Drive Dual-Mode 5G Core Validation
HPE and Ericsson debut their joint lab aimed directly at addressing the complex challenge of multi-vendor integration in 5G by pre-validating a complete, cloud-native stack for telco service providers.
Key Highlights
- The HPE Ericsson solution is a cloud-native, AI-enabled, dual-mode 5G core, which supports both 4G (EPC) and 5G Standalone (5GC) on a unified platform, accelerating network modernization and minimizing OpEx.
- The validated stack integrates Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core with HPE ProLiant Gen12 servers, HPE Juniper Networking fabric, and the Red Hat OpenShift container platform.
- The dual-mode core acts as a crucial enabler for advanced 5G capabilities, including network slicing and network automation, which are optimized with 5G Standalone (SA).
- By pre-validating the stack, HPE and Ericsson de-risk the deployment process for telcos, promising faster time-to-market for new services and simplified lifecycle management.
- To maximize competitiveness, the lab's focus must shift to producing third-party validated benchmarks showing superior TCO and performance (e.g., lower latency and OpEx) compared to other unverified solutions.
The News
HPE and Ericsson announced the establishment of a joint validation lab to tackle critical challenges faced by telecommunications (telco) service providers while deploying a multi-vendor infrastructure stack.Located near Ericsson's headquarters in Sweden, the validation lab will be operational by the end of 2025 to facilitate real-world customer testing and feedback, shifting its focus in the first half of 2026 to validating the integrated solution for faster time-to-market and simplified lifecycle management. For more information, read the HPE press release.
Analyst Take
HPE and Ericsson have announced the creation of a joint validation lab designed to simplify the complex deployment of multi-vendor infrastructure stacks for telecommunications service providers. This collaboration directly addresses key challenges telcos face when modernizing their networks.
The core purpose of the lab is to validate a complete, cloud-native, AI-enabled, dual-mode 5G core solution. This capability is crucial for telcos that need to build high-performing, scalable, and efficient networks capable of supporting the growing demands of a connected world. By successfully tackling the complexity of integrating new services, this joint initiative can empower service providers to streamline operations and accelerate innovation.
The joint validation lab aims to function as a comprehensive test environment for the solution stack, ensuring its interoperability and compliance with rigorous telco requirements. This validated stack integrates Ericsson's dual-mode 5G Core solution with core infrastructure components: HPE ProLiant Compute Gen12 servers, an HPE Juniper Networking fabric managed by Apstra Data Center Director, and Red Hat OpenShift for container orchestration.
Why HPE Ericsson Dual-Mode 5G Core Alliance is Key to 5G Ecosystem Innovation
From my perspective, a dual-mode 5G core is integral to advancing the 5G ecosystem because it acts as a crucial bridge and enabler for network evolution. It represents a single, unified software platform that supports both the existing EPC (Evolved Packet Core) used by 4G/5G Non-Standalone (NSA) and the new 5G Core (5GC) architecture required for 5G Standalone (SA). This unified approach enables telecommunication providers to migrate their networks incrementally without needing to build and run two entirely separate core networks simultaneously.
Such consolidation enables mobile operators to support existing services and new, high-value 5G use cases without separate core networks, including enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) with higher speeds, massive machine-type communications (mMTC) for dense IoT environments, and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) for mission-critical applications such as automated factory processes, autonomous vehicles (C-V2X), and remote surgery. Furthermore, the Dual-Mode Core facilitates key 5G services such as end-to-end network slicing, which allows customized virtual networks to be created for enterprises, and edge computing, which brings processing closer to the user to maximize performance for immersive AR/VR applications and private 5G networks.
This capability minimizes operational complexity and capital expenditure while providing an agile transition path. By enabling the operation of both 4G and 5G networks from a common infrastructure, the dual-mode core accelerates the adoption of 5G SA, which is the foundational architecture necessary for unlocking 5G's most advanced features.
In addition, the dual-mode 5G core is the fundamental catalyst for advancing transformative 5G capabilities such as network slicing and network automation. The native, cloud-native architecture of the 5G core, which the dual-mode solution incorporates, introduces Service-Based Architecture (SBA) and virtualization, making it possible to create network slices. These slices are isolated, end-to-end logical networks tailored to specific business needs, such as ultra-low latency for autonomous vehicles or high bandwidth for fixed wireless access.
Without the full deployment of the 5G SA core (enabled by the dual-mode solution), I see that these features are not possible. Its integration with AI-enabled tools allows for greater network automation, improving efficiency, speeding up service delivery, and paving the way for future innovations planned for 5G Advanced (5.5G), which will rely heavily on an intelligent, fully decoupled core.
Looking Ahead
Overall I believe that HPE and Ericsson needed to showcase their 5G ecosystem credentials by offering a validated stack to directly address the critical challenge of multi-vendor complexity faced by telecommunications service providers. In the move to cloud-native 5G, telcos utilize components from multiple vendors, such as the Ericsson 5G Core, HPE compute and networking, and the Red Hat OpenShift platform, requiring extensive and costly integration testing.
By pre-validating this specific, full-featured stack in a joint lab, the companies de-risk the deployment process, simplify the migration path to dual-mode 5G, and deliver a faster time-to-market for new services. This pre-integrated solution is a powerful competitive offering that assures telcos of performance, scalability, and operational efficiency, thereby cementing the credibility and leadership of both HPE and Ericsson across the intensely competitive 5G infrastructure market.
I find that to dramatically improve the joint validation lab's competitiveness over the next 12 months, HPE and Ericsson must transition from merely testing interoperability to demonstrating quantifiable business outcomes for telcos. This involves focusing lab activities on generating third-party validated performance and TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) benchmarks, specifically showing how the pre-validated, multi-vendor stack delivers superior network slice latency, faster service activation (time-to-market), and lower operational expenditure (OpEx) through the use of AI-driven automation (AIOps).
By openly publishing these results and actively using the lab for customer-led, real-world scenario testing, they can establish the joint offering as the most de-risked and proven path for telcos to modernize their core networks, directly challenging competing single-vendor or unverified multi-vendor solutions.
Ron Westfall | Analyst In Residence
Ron Westfall is a prominent analyst figure in technology and business transformation. Recognized as a Top 20 Analyst by AR Insights and a Tech Target contributor, his insights are featured in major media such as CNBC, Schwab Network, and NMG Media.
His expertise covers transformative fields such as Hybrid Cloud, AI Networking, Security Infrastructure, Edge Cloud Computing, Wireline/Wireless Connectivity, and 5G-IoT. Ron bridges the gap between C-suite strategic goals and the practical needs of end users and partners, driving technology ROI for leading organizations.