5G-Enabled Windows 11 PCs: A New Era for Hybrid Work Connectivity

Discover the future of hybrid work with 5G Windows 11 PCs enabled by SoftBank, T-Mobile, Telia, Ericsson, Microsoft, and Thales, offering seamless connectivity and automated eSIM management.
5G-Enabled Windows 11 PCs: A New Era for Hybrid Work Connectivity

Empowering the Future of Work with 5G-Integrated Windows 11 PCs

In today’s rapidly evolving work environment, the demand for seamless, secure, and efficient connectivity is more pressing than ever, particularly as businesses navigate the complexities of hybrid and remote work models. Traditional connectivity solutions often fall short, especially for laptop users who face the challenge of finding secure Wi-Fi networks. Ericsson’s innovative Ericsson Virtual Cellular Network (EVCN), a pioneering initiative from Ericsson ONE, is set to transform this landscape by automating eSIM profile management, thereby enabling enterprises to establish their own virtual cellular networks. This breakthrough facilitates swift and secure connections for employee laptops to various 5G networks using Windows 11 PCs, which are adept at selecting eSIM profiles and automatically switching networks according to predefined enterprise policies.

Ian LeGrow, Microsoft Corporate Vice-President of Core OS Innovation, underscores the critical need for providing secure remote access for the mobile workforce. Through collaboration with Ericsson on the EVCN initiative, Windows 11 Pro devices managed with Microsoft Intune are equipped to seamlessly and securely connect to global 5G networks. This collaboration ensures that network and device provisioning, connectivity optimization, and policy-based management are seamlessly integrated, thereby enhancing productivity and ensuring easy access to essential corporate systems and resources.

Leveraging 5G for Unmatched Connectivity and Productivity


The EVCN solution capitalizes on the exceptional performance and extensive coverage of 5G networks, offering organizations the ability to deliver an ‘always-connected’ experience. This is crucial for enhancing the productivity of a hybrid workforce, ensuring employees remain connected to the most efficient and suitable 5G network through the activation of the appropriate eSIM profile.

Magnus Leonhardt, Head of Strategy & Innovation B2B at Telia Sweden, points to the growing customer demand for reducing internal infrastructure complexity. Standardized 5G technology, he notes, provides unparalleled quality of service and holistic connectivity that meets the diverse needs of users, whether in the office, at home, or on the move.

A comprehensive trial with Ericsson Enterprise IT, involving collaborations with SoftBank Corp. in Japan, T-Mobile in the United States, and Telia in Sweden, successfully demonstrated the potential of eSIM profile management and automatic network switching. This trial provided Ericsson employees using 5G Windows 11 PCs a seamless connectivity experience as they traveled across Stockholm, New York, Seattle, and Tokyo.

Mats Hultin, CIO and Head of Ericsson Enterprise IT, highlights the company’s commitment to IT modernization and the transition towards a wireless enterprise that supports flexible working arrangements. The trial underscored EVCN’s role as a strategic element in moving from traditional fixed connectivity solutions to a scalable, global 5G infrastructure.

Innovative Solutions for Private and Public 5G Networks

The trial also extended to eSIM management within a private 5G network at Ericssonโ€™s D-15 lab in Santa Clara, showcasing the seamless transition between private and public 5G networks on laptops as employees moved across different coverage areas. Thales’ eSIM-as-a-Service (eSaaS) technology played a pivotal role in this process, offering a simplified and secure way for enterprises to connect devices to 4G/5G private networks.

Eva Rudin, Thales Vice President of Mobile Connectivity Solutions, emphasized the importance of providing enterprises with an intuitive web interface to order and configure eSIMs, facilitating easy connectivity.

Conclusion: A Vision for Hybrid Work Enhanced by 5G

This collaborative effort among Ericsson, Microsoft, SoftBank, T-Mobile, Telia, and Thales, showcased at MWC Barcelona 2024, represents a significant leap forward in utilizing 5G technology to enhance enterprise IT. By ensuring high-performance 5G connectivity for Windows 11 PCs, employees can securely access cloud-based services such as Microsoft Teams and Office 365, whether they are working from the office, home, or on the move. The EVCN solution, combined with cloud technologies and 5G connectivity, is redefining the reality of hybrid work, offering a cost-efficient and sustainable IT solution that promises to elevate employee productivity and security across various work settings.

Ryuji Wakikawa, Vice President and Head of the Research Institute of Advanced Technology at SoftBank Corp., views EVCN as a transformative tool for modernizing work styles through the integration of 5G, enhancing the implementation of AI workflows with improved security. This initiative highlights the potential of 5G to not only streamline connectivity but also to foster a more dynamic, efficient, and secure work environment for enterprises worldwide.


Recent Content

Web3 is redefining the telecom industry by introducing decentralized infrastructure, blockchain-based billing, smart contracts, NFTs, and digital identity. This article explores how telcos can evolve from connectivity providers to key players in Web3 ecosystemsโ€”offering programmable services, token economies, and secure, user-centric digital experiences.
As the telecom industry celebrates World Telecom Day 2025, the theme is clear: connectivity is not just infrastructureโ€”it is empowerment. It is what enables a student in a rural village to access world-class education, a farmer to monitor crops via smart sensors, or a doctor to conduct remote surgery with millisecond precision.
AT&T will acquire Lumenโ€™s consumer fiber business in a $5.75B deal to expand its broadband coverage to 60 million U.S. locations by 2030. The transaction gives AT&T access to 4M enabled locations, 1M subscribers, and new metro markets like Seattle and Phoenix. Meanwhile, Lumen refocuses on enterprise innovation and AI-first networking.
As 5G expands, reduced-capability (RedCap) and enhanced RedCap (eRedCap) IoT devices face pressure to transition from 4G. But adoption has lagged due to price and value challenges. This article explores why OEMs are holding back, the role of low-power DSP modem platforms like Cevaโ€™s, and how software-defined radio and flexibility are key to unlocking 5Gโ€™s potential in high-volume, low-bandwidth IoT applications.
Verizon joins the Buffalo Bills as a Founding Partner of Highmark Stadium, bringing 5G connectivity, sustainability-focused services, and smart venue technology to the teamโ€™s new home in Orchard Park. The partnership includes ownership of the DAS system, advanced operational tools, AR fan features, and exclusive Verizon customer activationsโ€”setting a new benchmark for connected sports venues by 2026.
Singtel launches 5G+, introducing nationwide network slicing for both consumers and enterprises, a global first. This upgrade brings faster speeds, lower latency, stronger indoor coverage, and real-time cyber protection to over 1.5 million users. Singtel 5G+ enhances mobile connectivity with the 700MHz spectrum, priority plans, and app-based slicing for business-critical apps, aligning with Singaporeโ€™s Smart Nation goals.
Whitepaper
Telecom networks are facing unprecedented complexity with 5G, IoT, and cloud services. Traditional service assurance methods are becoming obsolete, making AI-driven, real-time analytics essential for competitive advantage. This independent industry whitepaper explores how DPUs, GPUs, and Generative AI (GenAI) are enabling predictive automation, reducing operational costs, and improving service quality....
Whitepaper
Explore the collaboration between Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue University, Ericsson, and Saab at the Aviation Innovation Hub. Discover how private 5G networks, real-time analytics, and sustainable innovations are shaping the "Airport of the Future" for a smarter, safer, and greener aviation industry....
Article & Insights
This article explores the deployment of 5G NR Transparent Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), detailing the architecture's advantages and challenges. It highlights how this "bent-pipe" NTN approach integrates ground-based gNodeB components with NGSO satellite constellations to expand global connectivity. Key challenges like moving beam management, interference mitigation, and latency are discussed, underscoring...

Download Magazine

With Subscription

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Scroll to Top