SoftBank and Ericsson Validate Five Simultaneous 5G Use Cases on Commercial Network at Suzuka Circuit

SoftBank and Ericsson Validate Five Simultaneous 5G Use Cases on Commercial Network at Suzuka Circuit

(IN BRIEF) Ericsson Japan and SoftBank successfully demonstrated advanced 5G Standalone and millimetre wave capabilities during the 2026 F1 Japan Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, using five independent network slices simultaneously on SoftBank’s commercial network. The trial tested how network slicing, 5G SA, mmWave, Massive MIMO and automated external control could support different communications needs at a heavily congested event venue. The five use cases included enhanced 5G SA connectivity for users, XR experiences, cashless payment support, mmWave backhaul public Wi-Fi and mmWave 5G wireless camera transmission for live broadcasting. Compared with the 2025 event, SoftBank 5G SA users saw downlink speeds improve by around four times and uplink speeds by more than 14 times, while 5G NSA users also experienced major improvements. The trial also showed that XR downlink latency over the radio section could be reduced to one-tenth compared with general 5G SA users. The demonstration highlights how 5G SA network slicing and automated optimisation can help deliver tailored service quality for multiple use cases on a single commercial network.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 17-Jun-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Ericsson Japan and SoftBank have completed a joint field trial demonstrating the benefits of 5G Standalone and millimetre wave technology at the FIA F1 World Championship Series Aramco Japanese Grand Prix 2026, held at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture from 27 to 29 March.

The trial showed how multiple advanced communications services can operate at the same time on a single commercial network through the combined use of network slicing, 5G SA and mmWave. Ericsson and SoftBank created five independent network slices, including mmWave communication, on SoftBank’s commercial network and delivered them simultaneously to users at the event venue. Ericsson said this represented the highest number of network slices used at the same time during an event in Japan, based on its research as of 17 June 2026.

The demonstration was carried out as part of Ericsson and SoftBank’s joint activities as event supporters of the F1 Japan Grand Prix. The purpose was to test how network control could optimise communications quality for different service needs at a large-scale venue, while improving network capacity and connectivity for general attendees.

Large events create a wide range of simultaneous network demands. Attendees post on social media, upload and stream videos, vendors process cashless payments, organisers require operational connectivity and broadcasters transmit video feeds. The field trial examined how each of these use cases could be supported with dedicated network resources and service quality controls on a live commercial network.

The five use cases demonstrated during the trial included enhanced communication quality for 5G SA users, an XR experience requiring high bandwidth and low latency, stable private 5G connectivity for cashless payment terminals, public Wi-Fi using mmWave backhaul as fixed wireless access, and wireless camera video transmission over mmWave 5G for live broadcasting.

To support the simultaneous operation of these services, Ericsson and SoftBank deployed triple-band Massive MIMO equipment, added additional mmWave radios and carried out detailed network design. This significantly increased capacity and performance compared with the previous year’s event, allowing users to post to social media and stream live content even under heavy traffic conditions.

For general SoftBank users, performance improved notably compared with the 2025 event. 5G SA users experienced approximately four times faster downlink speeds and more than 14 times faster uplink speeds, while 5G NSA users saw downlink speeds improve by around 1.5 times and uplink speeds by around six times.

The companies also used network slicing and Ericsson 5G Advanced features, including throughput control, low-latency optimisation and mmWave control. These capabilities allowed bandwidth and latency to be managed more precisely, with network resources allocated according to the needs of each use case. As a result, the network was able to maintain general user connectivity while also supporting more demanding services such as video transmission and payment processing during weekend congestion.

For the XR use case, where low latency is especially important, the companies confirmed that downlink latency over the radio section was reduced to one-tenth compared with general 5G SA users during the same period.

Ericsson and SoftBank also demonstrated automated network optimisation through external control. At selected base stations, communication quality for each slice was visualised at one-minute intervals, allowing resources to be automatically adjusted at high speed. This self-tuning operation showed how slices with different quality requirements could continue to meet their service targets even as network traffic changed during the event.

The trial demonstrated how network slicing can support multiple services with different technical requirements on a shared commercial network. In one example, a slice with higher quality requirements could receive more scheduling frequency and bandwidth than another slice during normal traffic, while the external control system automatically adjusted resources during congestion to continue meeting service requirements.

Teruyuki Oya, Senior Vice President and Chief Network Officer of SoftBank Corp., said the trial showed how SoftBank’s network is moving from uniform connectivity toward service quality tailored to individual use cases. He said 5G SA network slicing and automated control made it possible to support several use cases simultaneously and deliver the required quality for each, even in an extremely congested environment.

Jawad Manssour, President and Representative Director of Ericsson Japan, said the validation of five use cases at the F1 Japan Grand Prix with SoftBank demonstrated Ericsson’s ability to provide optimised connectivity in highly demanding situations. He said similar capabilities could eventually be extended beyond localised venues to larger areas, supporting digital transformation across Japanese industries and society.

The field trial is also featured in the June 2026 edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, in an article jointly written by SoftBank and Ericsson.

Media Contacts:

media.relations@ericsson.com  (+46 10 719 69 92)
investor.relations@ericsson.com  (+46 10 719 00 00)

SOURCE: Ericsson