Ericsson and LG Uplus will collaborate to explore network-based voice AI global business opportunities and accelerate AI-native network transformation to create new customer experiences, improve operational efficiency, and drive future growth in the AI era.

• Strategic partnership combines LG Uplus’s voice AI innovation capabilities and Ericsson’s global network technology leadership.
• Collaboration aims to bring voice AI beyond app-based boundaries and into communications service provider networks.
• The partnership will help build intelligent and programmable networks that accelerate innovation and enable the next generation of AI-driven services.

At the agreement signing ceremony held at Ericsson’s headquarters in Sweden, executives from both companies including Bumshik Hong, President of LG Uplus (sixth from the left in the back row), Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson (seventh from the left in the back row), and Per Narvinger, incoming President and CEO of Ericsson (third from the left in the front row).

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and LG Uplus have agreed to deepen their strategic partnership to develop and expand network-based voice AI solutions for global markets, and advance AI-native network transformation.

The collaboration brings together LG Uplus’ experience in commercial voice AI services and Ericsson’s global leadership in network technology. Together, the companies share an ambition to create next-generation communications services where AI is more deeply embedded in the network infrastructure, enabling more intelligent calling experiences, improving operational efficiency, and creating a foundation for the future growth in the AI era.

As part of the partnership, the companies intend to explore:

• Network-based voice AI solutions that can operate within communications service provider networks.
• Global business opportunities for voice AI services, including potential service and commercialization models.
• Intelligent and programmable network capabilities that accelerate innovation and enable faster introduction of new services.
• AI-driven network automation to optimize performance, improve energy efficiency and increase operational agility.
• Future network evolution, including 5G Standalone and scalable connectivity for emerging AI services and devices.
• Technology validation to support application across diverse cloud and network environments.

The collaboration is expected to combine LG Uplus’ commercial service experience and voice AI capabilities, including its AI call agent service ixi-O, with Ericsson’s global network technology capabilities including those for IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) for voice and video calls. Together, the companies aim to explore next-generation telecommunications services where AI is embedded more directly into the network and can support more intuitive, voice-led customer experiences.

As AI-powered services become more common, mobile networks are expected to play a greater role in connecting people, devices and AI capabilities. Network-based voice AI can help reduce dependence on individual applications and devices, while enabling communications service providers to deliver AI-enabled experiences through trusted, high-quality voice networks.

The companies also intend to explore how networks can evolve from connectivity pathways into more intelligent platforms that understand service conditions, optimize network resources and support AI-driven automation. This includes continued discussions on “Network for AI” and “AI for Network” capabilities that can help communications service providers capture new value in the AI era.

Per Narvinger, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Networks, and incoming President and CEO of Ericsson, says: “AI-native networks will serve as a key technology foundation for the future of telecommunications. Through our partnership with LG Uplus, we will enhance customer experience and improve operational efficiency based on network-based voice AI solutions and AI-native networks, while jointly exploring new business opportunities and securing new growth engines together.”

Bumshik Hong, CEO of LG Uplus, says: “By combining LG Uplus’ voice AI service experience accumulated through ixi-O with Ericsson’s global network technology capabilities, we will introduce network-based voice AI to the global market, delivering a more intelligent and convenient communications experience. Through this collaboration, we will further shape the global business opportunities for voice AI and ensure that AI-native network technologies contribute to LG Uplus’ mid- to long-term growth and innovation in customer experience. ”The companies plan to build a mid- to long-term cooperation framework that extends from technical exploration to potential global commercialization, while continuing to define concrete areas of collaboration through mutual agreement.