5G at Sea: Ericsson & Leonardo are Testing the Waves

Ericsson, Leonardo and the Italian Navy have announced that they are conducting a maritime connectivity test using an Ericsson 5G SA system, placing advanced mobile network technology at the centre of naval operations.

The live trial enables connectivity between naval units engaged in a day and night training scenario on the open sea, highlighting how 5G SA supports mission-critical communications beyond terrestrial networks.

The demonstration focuses on long-range data communication at sea, secure information exchange and the integration of on-board systems, underlining how telecoms infrastructure operates in isolated and demanding environments.

Standalone 5G deployed on naval vessels

A completely self-contained end-to-end Ericsson 5G SA network is installed on board the Italian Navy’s amphibious landing ship San Giorgio, which serves as the lead unit during the experimentation campaign. 

The deployment comprises the Ericsson Ultra Compact Core and Ericsson Massive MIMO Radio Access Network products and solutions.

The Ultra Compact Core is a portable version of the 5G core network, the central element that manages data traffic and network functions. 

Massive MIMO refers to advanced antenna technology using multiple inputs and outputs to increase capacity and coverage. 

Together, these components form a private mobile network operating independently at sea.

Ericsson 5G SA customer premises equipment is also installed on board a second unit of the Italian Navy – the Multi-Purpose Combat Ship Raimondo Montecuccoli. 

Customer premises equipment connects on-board systems and devices to the 5G network, enabling applications to run across the secure link between vessels.

Leonardo and Ericsson collaborate in the EDF 5G COMPAD project and demonstrate its outcomes during the Italian Navy’s Operational Experimentation 2-25 in the Gulf of Taranto.

The experimentation, officially called the Italian Navy open-sea Operational Experimentation OPEX Task 2-25 within the framework of the Multi-Domain Operational Experimentation Committee, includes several ecosystem partners testing at sea capabilities.

Ericsson also collaborates with the Italian Navy as part of 2024 NATO trials, when an end-to-end 5G SA network is installed at the Italian Naval base in Taranto.

Secure real-time data exchange at sea

Using Ericsson’s 5G Standalone connectivity and Leonardo’s NINE encryption solution, the trial enables the secure, real-time exchange of classified and unclassified information between two naval units. 

Encryption protects sensitive data, while 5G SA supports low latency and high bandwidth for operational use.

The exchange includes full situational awareness from the Combat Management System and video streams from 12 unmanned systems processed via the AI Brain platform. 

Situational awareness refers to the collection and presentation of operational data in real time so commanders understand the tactical environment. 

The use of unmanned systems and AI processing over 5G shows how telecom networks support digital naval operations.

The OPEX validates the performance, security and resilience of 5G SA for on-board connected systems. 

It also shows how a unified 5G network optimises spectrum usage compared with multiple standalone communication systems operating on unlicensed and potentially overlapping bands with interference risks. 

A single managed 5G layer reduces congestion and mitigates signal clashes when different radio systems compete for the same frequencies.

Telecoms expertise in mission-critical networks

Patrick Johansson, Senior Vice President and Head of Ericsson Europe, Middle East and Africa, says: “The Italian Navy is seeking the best possible connectivity solutions for its related needs and we are proud to work with them towards that goal. 

“Italy’s central Mediterranean location, with an exclusive economic zone spanning more than 500,000 Sq Km of sea, means the Italian Navy plays a strategically important role in Europe.”

Freddie Södergren, Head of Mission Critical Networks, Ericsson, says: “This successful trial with Leonardo and the Italian Navy represents a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to advancing defense capabilities through 5G technology.