Verizon and Ericsson complete world's first outdoor 6G call test

Verizon and Ericsson have successfully completed the world’s first outdoor 6G call test using pre-standard technology. The field test took place at a commercial Verizon network site in Concord, California, marking a significant step in moving 6G research from controlled laboratory environments into real-world settings.

The test utilized the 7GHz frequency band with a 400MHz carrier bandwidth and a non-standardized 6G protocol stack. To evaluate signal performance, Ericsson deployed proof-of-concept equipment at a base station, while the user terminal was placed inside a mobile cabin equipped with various wall and window materials. This setup allowed researchers to analyze how signals penetrate buildings and behave under different conditions, including line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight scenarios involving vegetation and physical obstacles.

Key performance metrics evaluated during the test included network coverage, throughput, latency, and stability. While this milestone demonstrates the potential for 6G to support future applications like AI-native services and industrial automation, both companies emphasized that this is a proof-of-concept. Official technical standards for 6G have not yet been defined, and the technology is not yet ready for commercial use.