Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Ericsson have announced the creation of a joint validation lab focused on streamlining the deployment of multi-vendor 5G core network solutions for telecommunications service providers.
The initiative aims to address the challenges associated with implementing cloud-native, AI-enabled dual-mode 5G core networks, which must be both high-performing and scalable while remaining efficient and cost-effective.
Lab collaboration
The validation lab will provide an environment for interoperability testing. This setting is designed to ensure that the integrated network stack-which brings together Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core solution with HPE’s compute and networking technology and Red Hat OpenShift-meets telco-specific requirements.
Fernando Castro Cristin, Vice President and General Manager, Telco Infrastructure Business at HPE, stated, “Building on our strategic partnership with Ericsson, this collaboration reflects HPE’s commitment to empowering telco service providers with innovative technology solutions to thrive in the 5G and AI-driven economy.”
By integrating Ericsson’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core and Red Hat OpenShift with our proven next-gen HPE compute infrastructure and HPE Juniper Networking fabric, we are developing a new integrated offering that will provide telco service providers with the flexibility to deploy rapidly, scale on demand, adapt to unpredictable traffic, provide predictable lifecycle management, and keep pace with emerging technologies.
The validation lab is located near Ericsson’s headquarters in Sweden and is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. The lab will allow customers to conduct real-world testing and provide feedback. In the first half of 2026, efforts will concentrate on validating the integrated solution itself, with the goal of ensuring a quicker time to market and simplified lifecycle management.
Integrated solution features
The collaboration will leverage several technologies as part of the integrated solution. Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core software supports both 4G and 5G networks, an approach that reduces complexity for operators and lowers operational costs by allowing more efficient scaling and network future-proofing.
The compute infrastructure utilised at the lab consists of HPE ProLiant Compute DL360 and DL380 Gen12 servers, which use Intel Xeon 6 processors. According to HPE, these servers are optimised for the demands of network-intensive workloads such as containerised core network functions (CNFs) including elements such as AMF, UPF, and SMF. Security is addressed via the HPE Integrated Lights Out (iLO) 7 system, which the company describes as offering security from the chip to the cloud.
Networking is supplied by HPE Juniper Networking, using QFX Series switches and managed by Apstra Data Centre Director. This component of the solution supports intent-based automation and artificial intelligence for IT operations (AIOps) to enable operational efficiencies and lower ongoing costs.
Red Hat OpenShift rounds out the stack by serving as the cloud-native telco platform. It is intended to enable operators to develop, deploy, and scale new services with agility, offering a consistent and automated operational experience from core to edge. This is designed to help manage the complexity of rolling out advanced network functions while speeding up the delivery of new services.
Industry perspective
Krishna Prasad Kalluri, Head of Solution and Portfolio, Ericsson Core Networks, commented, “As the world’s leader in 5G and core networks, Ericsson is committed to drive innovation and openness, simplifying the journey to cloud-native networks for telco service providers.”
Our partnership with HPE and the establishment of this joint validation lab further advances the creation of cloud-native solutions for 5G Core on multi-vendor infrastructure.
With this development, HPE and Ericsson intend to enable network operators to manage more complex infrastructure requirements as 5G and AI-driven services evolve, while streamlining integration and operational processes through validated, tested solutions.