- Successful demonstration of long-range 5G SA data communication at sea
- Onboard connectivity and ship systems successfully tested
- Real-world testing conducted over an extended period under real day/night operational conditions
STOCKHOLM, February 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), international defense company Leonardo and the Italian Navy have conducted a maritime connectivity test using an Ericsson 5G Standalone system. The trial concluded successfully, enabling connectivity between naval units engaged in a day and night training scenario on the high seas.
A fully autonomous end-to-end Ericsson 5G SA network – including Ericsson ultra-compact core And Ericsson Massive MIMO Radio Access Network products and solutions – was installed aboard the Italian Navy’s amphibious landing ship San Giorgio, which served as the main unit during a recent experimental campaign.
Ericsson 5G SA Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) has been installed on board a second Italian Navy unit, the Raimondo Montecuccoli multi-purpose combat ship.
Leonardo and Ericsson collaborated on the EDF 5G COMPAD project and demonstrated its results during the Italian Navy’s Operational Experiment (OPEX) 2-25 in the Gulf of Taranto.
Using Ericsson’s 5G standalone connectivity and Leonardo’s NINE encryption solution, the trial enabled the secure, real-time exchange of classified and unclassified information between two naval units, including full situational awareness from the combat management system and video feeds from 12 unmanned systems processed via the AI Brain platform.
OPEX validated the performance, security and resiliency of 5G SA for connected in-vehicle systems, while also showing how a unified 5G network can optimize spectrum usage compared to multiple standalone communications systems operating in unlicensed and potentially overlapping bands with risks of interference.
Patrick Johansson, Senior Vice President and Director of Ericsson Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “The Italian Navy is seeking the best possible connectivity solutions for its related needs, and we are proud to work with them to achieve this goal. Italy’s central location in the Mediterranean, with an exclusive economic zone spanning over 500,000 km² of sea, means that the Italian Navy plays a strategically important role in Europe.
Freddie Södergren, Head of Critical Networks at Ericsson, said: “This successful trial with Leonardo and the Italian Navy represents an important milestone in our continued commitment to advancing defense capabilities through 5G technology. As an integral part of Ericsson’s defense portfolio, our 5G platform is designed to meet rigorous industry requirements.
The same Italian Navy experiment – officially called the Italian Navy Deep Sea Operational Experiment (OPEX Task 2-25), under the Multi-Domain Operational Experiment Committee – included several other ecosystem partners testing capabilities at sea.
Ericsson also collaborated with the Italian Navy in the NATO 2024 trials, when an end-to-end 5G SA network was installed in the Italian naval base of Taranto.
Related links:
About Ericsson Standalone 5G
About the Ericsson Ultra Compact Core
About Ericsson Massive MIMO
About Ericsson 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) Solutions
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ABOUT ERICSON:
Ericsson’s programmable, high-performance networks provide connectivity to billions of people every day. For 150 years, we have been pioneers in creating communications technology. We provide mobile communications and connectivity solutions to service providers and businesses. Together with our customers and partners, we are making the digital world of tomorrow a reality.
ABOUT LEONARD:
Leonardo is an international industrial group, among the world’s leading aerospace, defense and security (AD&S) companies. With 60,000 employees worldwide, the company addresses global security across the Helicopter, Electronics, Aeronautics, Cyber & Security and Space sectors, and is a partner of the most important international programs such as Eurofighter, JSF, NH-90, FREMM, GCAP and Eurodrone. Leonardo has significant production capacities in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the United States. Leonardo uses its subsidiaries, joint ventures and equity interests, which include Leonardo DRS (71.4%), MBDA (25%), ATR (50%), Hensoldt (22.8%), Telespazio (67%), Thales Alenia Space (33%) and Avio (19.3%). Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), Leonardo recorded new orders worth 20.9 billion euros in 2024, with an order book of 44.2 billion euros and a consolidated turnover of 17.8 billion euros. Included in the MIB ESG index, the company has also been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) since 2010.
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