SoftBank Corp. and Ericsson Successfully Demonstrate Low-Latency, High-Reliability Network-enabled Physical AI With AI-RAN

SoftBank Corp. and Ericsson announced they successfully conducted a proof-of-concept (PoC) aimed at realizing low-latency and highly reliable communication networks required for Physical AI*1.

In this collaboration, SoftBank’s real-time processing technology leveraging the MEC platform of AI-RAN under development was coordinated with a 5G network leveraging network features from Ericsson, enabling the integrated coordination of robots, communication networks, and computing resources, and achieving low-latency and highly reliable control.

As a result, it was confirmed that, in accordance with the robot’s operational status and required processing tasks, AI processing—previously performed directly on the robot—can be dynamically offloaded to the MEC environment. Additionally, the communication network can be optimized through the implementation of differentiated connectivity*2 using Ericsson network functions, such as network slicing and priority control, enabling the realization of stable Physical AI.

*1: Physical AI refers to technology that enables robots to analyze and interpret data from sensors, cameras, and external systems through AI, allowing them to perform flexible and complex physical movements based on AI-driven decisions.

*2: Differentiated connectivity refers to functionalities that secures deterministic performance (bandwidth and latency) through 5G SA core and 5G RAN software, such as network slicing.

Read the full press release here.
https://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/news/press/sbkk/2026/20260227_01/