Nex-Tech Wireless Signs Ericsson for Four-Year 5G Standalone Rollout

Nex-Tech Wireless and Ericsson (ERIC ) announced a comprehensive four-year network modernization agreement on September 14, 2026, covering approximately 85 percent of the regional carrier’s Radio Access Network (RAN) footprint across rural Kansas, with deployment of a cloud-native 5G Standalone Core and new network hosting capabilities for other mobile operators.

Ericsson describes the initiative as a key step in Nex-Tech Wireless’ rural telecom network modernization strategy, bringing advanced 5G services to communities outside of major metropolitan markets. The new agreement builds on the success of the previous agreement between the companies, extending the existing collaboration and further strengthening Nex-Tech Wireless’ regional carrier competitive strategy. The RAN and Core modernization is critical to enhancing network performance, ensuring long-term reliability, and supporting continued subscriber growth in rural Kansas.

Radio Access and Core Network Scope

Under the agreement, Nex-Tech Wireless will upgrade its network using Ericsson Radio System products and solutions, including the RAN Processor 6655, which Ericsson describes as AI-capable, and the latest 4G and 5G SA RAN software features. Ericsson says those software features enable higher throughput, lower latency, and seamless FDD/TDD coverage. The update improves coverage, capacity, and spectral efficiency, creating a scalable network platform that can evolve in line with customer demand and new 5G use cases.

On the core network side, the agreement expands the existing implementation of Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core solution, which runs on Ericsson’s Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution (CNIS), to include 5G Core and roaming capabilities supporting the rollout of 5G Standalone. The agreement also introduces Ericsson’s Telco DataOps Platform (ETDP), which Ericsson says enables 5G deployments while ensuring accurate billing and revenue management across the core network. The expansion will deliver a future-proof wireless network architecture that supports 5G Standalone deployment for rural wireless carriers.

Ericsson states the agreement addresses Nex-Tech Wireless’ long-term technology and business requirements while ensuring the network remains modern, scalable, and positioned to support future monetization opportunities across the 5G ecosystem. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the four-year agreement.

“Nex-Tech Wireless is bringing the benefits of advanced 5G Standalone to rural Kansas communities,” said Jon Lightle, President and CEO at Nex-Tech Wireless. “By partnering with Ericsson to modernize our RAN and expand our cloud-native 5G Core, we are strengthening our network performance today while creating a scalable, future-proof platform for new services and opportunities in the years ahead.”

Per Wahlen, Senior Vice President and Head of Customer Unit US Hyperscalers and Regional Accounts, Ericsson Americas, said the agreement underscores Ericsson’s commitment to regional carriers that are driving innovation in rural markets. “We are helping Nex-Tech Wireless execute its rural telecom network modernization strategy end-to-end, support subscriber growth, and unlock new revenue streams with hosting capabilities and differentiated 5G connectivity,” Wahlen said.

Prior Five-Year Modernization Initiative

The new agreement extends a collaboration formalized on April 17, 2024, when Ericsson and Nex-Tech Wireless announced a five-year network modernization initiative for communities across Kansas. That project centered on implementing core evolution and cloud-native solutions through the onboarding of Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core solution and advanced RAN technologies throughout Kansas. Through the adoption of Ericsson’s Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) and Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution, Nex-Tech Wireless was positioned to take advantage of Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) and Cloud Native Functions (CNFs), an approach Ericsson said would drive network efficiency and flexibility and ensure seamless integration of future 5G and evolving RAN technologies.

In the 2024 announcement, Lightle said the continued collaboration kept the carrier focused on its mission to keep Kansans connected, and that Ericsson’s solutions combined with Nex-Tech Wireless’ technical team would bring the next evolution of technology to rural America. Eric Boudriau, then Vice President and Head of Customer Unit Regional Customers at Ericsson North America, said combining Nex-Tech Wireless’ local expertise with Ericsson’s global leadership in telecommunications would empower Kansans with access to world-class connectivity solutions. The companies described the 2024 initiative as a shared commitment to bridging the digital divide in rural America.