Ericsson, Google Cloud partner to launch AI-powered 5G Core-as-a-Service

By Puja Sharma

Ericsson has launched Ericsson On-Demand, a new solution delivering core network services as a true software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform to communications service providers (CSPs).

The platform is designed with Google Cloud, leveraging AI infrastructure and Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) – and is managed end-to-end by Ericsson. The solution will help CSPs quickly set up and grow core network services, reduce operating costs, and gain business flexibility with a fully managed, cloud-native platform.

At a time when CSPs are under growing pressure to innovate at speed and scale while managing increasing operational complexity, Ericsson On-Demand offers a radical step-change in agility and efficiency. The platform deploys the full core in minutes, scales up or down as needed, and allows CSPs to pay only for what they use. Customers also don’t have to worry about managing the underlying infrastructure.

Powered by the same Ericsson developers that deliver mobile connectivity to billions of users worldwide – and built on Google Cloud – Ericsson On-Demand combines telecom-grade reliability with public cloud flexibility. The platform leverages GKE to simplify and improve network availability, in addition to Google Cloud’s full stack AI infrastructure which is available globally across 42 cloud regions and more than two million miles of terrestrial and subsea fiber. This will further enable CSPs to operate with the resilience, availability, and compliance their customers expect.

Ericsson On-Demand also helps CSPs add new features to their current systems bit-by-bit, without causing any downtime. Its secure-by-design architecture meets evolving compliance and sovereignty requirements, offering deployment options around the world.

Whether enabling wide-area enterprise networks, accelerating fixed wireless access (FWA) rollouts, or testing new markets, On-Demand empowers CSPs to move from idea to execution with unprecedented speed.

Eric Parsons, VP Head of Emerging Segments, Cloud Software and Services, Ericsson, said, “Ericsson On-Demand, is more than a product, it’s an enabler of ambition. Today’s CTOs must move fast, scale smart, and lead their organizations into new commercial territory. On-Demand removes the risk and complexity holding them back. It gives them the agility to outpace market change, the confidence to innovate without compromise, and the clarity to seize opportunities that were previously just out of reach. Choosing On-Demand is a bold signal of leadership and a commitment to future-ready growth.”

Muninder Singh Sambi, vice president and general manager of Networking and Security, Google Cloud, said, “With Ericsson On-Demand on Google Cloud’s AI infrastructure, CSPs can rapidly deploy 5G core and tap into new revenue streams. This partnership with Ericsson isn’t just about technology; it’s about building the AI-driven telecom of tomorrow for our customers.”