Ericsson warns uplink growth will strain 5G and shape 6G rollout
Ericsson expects uplink capacity needs to rise sharply as AI changes mobile traffic patterns. It argues that 6G should use a standalone design with reusable 5G core elements to avoid the fragmented deployment path that slowed 5G standalone.
Ericsson’s forecast points to uplink demand roughly tripling in the near term and then tripling again, with AI-driven devices and applications making mobile traffic more bidirectional. Its Mobility Report models three 2031 uplink cases—moderate, medium, and high—based on how widely AI devices and apps are adopted in dense urban settings, with projected gains ranging from two to five times over five years.
The vendor also wants future 6G launches around 2029/30 to begin with a standalone-style design while reusing 5G SA core elements. Marie Hogan, Ericsson’s head of 6G portfolio strategy, discussed this at an RCR-hosted 6G Forum on October 6. The report adds that among 55 operators studied in 2025, 43 saw uplink traffic grow faster than downlink.
The shift could affect mobile users, network operators, and industries relying on connected devices. If uplink demand rises as forecast, operators may need to invest earlier in capacity and spectrum efficiency, potentially influencing service quality and pricing. New 6G sensing and AI features could create services for consumers and enterprises, but their societal benefit may depend on measurable returns and broad, reliable deployment rather than fragmented rollouts.