Three Ireland has paired with Ericsson to launch a 5G Standalone (5G SA) network.

In doing so, the telco claims to have launched the first 5G SA network in Ireland.

5G SA is not reliant on older mobile generations and solely uses a 5G core network, whereas 5G Non-Standalone is attached to a 4G core.

Ericsson noted that its launch with Three is initially through a trial basis, and will be available to select corporate customers who will have the opportunity to test and trial its capabilities.

The technology is tipped to underpin the remote operation of unmanned mobile vehicles and equipment, logistics inventory robots, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), real-time manufacturing process controls, and real-time sports analysis.

Other key features of 5G SA include network slicing, which allows for operators such as Three, to build virtual end-to-end networks tailored to specific business requirements.

"Three Ireland is delivering on groundbreaking technology developments that are going to inherently advance the way we live, utilize, and interact with technology," said David Hennessy, chief technical officer, Three Ireland & Three UK.

“5G Standalone is the next evolution in 5G technology, as we move fully away from a reliance on 4G and into 5G core technology. This is just the beginning for true 5G where we will see the extensive possibilities for powering advanced technologies and supporting greater connectivity for all kinds of devices and enhancing user experiences.”

Three has partnered with Technological University Shannon (TUS) to trial 5G Standalone technology, as it looks to showcase the capabilities of the technology.

A number of telcos launched 5G SA networks last year, including Orange, Vodafone, NOS, Yettel, and Telefónica Deutschland, while many others have carried out trials of the technology.