Three Ireland & Ericsson

Effective connectivity for advanced technologies and IT Systems.

Three Ireland launches next evolution 5G network capability for businesses. The first-of-its-kind in Ireland, 5G Standalone network trial, powered by Ericsson, will enable more effective connectivity for advanced technologies and IT Systems. In Q4 2023: Three, Ireland’s largest mobile network, is the first Irish operator to launch the next evolution of 5G, 5G Standalone, which has the potential to accelerate innovation across industries and unlock exciting possibilities for businesses and consumers.

Operating initially on a trial basis, the 5G Standalone technology will be available to select corporate customers such as COMAND  who will have the opportunity to test and trial specific 5G Standalone capabilities.

5G Standalone is the next advancement of 5G technology – meaning the 5G network operates with a 5G dedicated core network, supporting enhanced speeds, providing minimal latency and enabling higher device density and capacity. In contrast, currently all 5G capabilities rely on a 4G radio coverage footprint and 4G core network, so while speeds are quicker and latency has improved, there is still a reliance on 4G.

With 5G Standalone, businesses can harness the full potential of 5G technology, unlocking a new era of connectivity and new capabilities that will empower industries and will change how many operate today. 5G Standalone is designed with a dedicated core network that ensures unparalleled performance and seamless connectivity for mission critical applications.

Trial 5G Standalone technology

Three Ireland has partnered with Technological University Shannon (TUS) & COMAND to trial 5G Standalone technology and begin showcasing its capabilities in real-life scenarios. 5G Standalone technology, powered by Ericsson, facilitates an array of capabilities for industry including the remote operation of drones and unmanned mobile vehicles and equipment, logistics inventory robots, as well as real-time manufacturing process controls. It can also enable new advanced medical solutions to facilitate healthcare and provide real-time sports analysis helping to enhance athletes’ performances.

Thanks to the minimal latency and high speeds of 5G Standalone technology, it can also enable distant, real-time music capabilities – meaning live music performances can take place with artists in different parts of the world, playing music live from various locations, creating unique experiences for artists and consumers.

As the next evolution of connectivity, 5G Standalone is also capable of offering ‘network slicing’, which will enable Three to build virtual end-to-end networks tailored to specific business requirements. This key feature of 5G Standalone allows infrastructure to be divided into multiple networks, supporting greater efficiencies, and providing quality of services for businesses. This in turn supports greater and more reliable connectivity for IT systems in all sectors, including pharma, robotics, industrial and manufacturing, supply chain and healthcare amongst others.

Three Ireland & COMAND Technology Gateway partnership

5G Standalone will truly enhance COMAND’s Applied research engineering outcomes &  Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) applications like cloud gaming, remote control, industry control, public safety and autonomous cars and will allow COMAND deliver higher end solutions for  end customers.