Ericsson, AT&T, and MediaTek have completed the first in-field trial of enhanced mobility features in North America. The project took place in Plano, Texas, and focused on testing Ericsson Low-Latency Mobility technology on the AT&T network. The trial utilized Ericsson’s Radio Access Network (RAN) infrastructure to evaluate Layer 1/Layer 2 Triggered Mobility, or LTM.
The primary objective of the trial was to assess how LTM affects handover interruption times. According to the companies, the feature can reduce data interruption during cell changes by up to 25 percent compared to legacy Layer 3 mobility. In broader testing scenarios, the technology reportedly reduces interruption time by as much as 40 percent. This reduction aims to improve reliability and resiliency for wireless links, particularly for services that require low latency.
The technology is designed to support emerging applications such as extended reality, physical AI, and latency-critical IoT services. By minimizing the time a device is disconnected while moving between network cells, the system aims to provide smoother connections for users and equipment. The companies noted that near-seamless mobility is critical for immersive video conferencing, cloud applications, and mission-critical operations.
LTM also serves as a foundation for future AI-powered enhancements. Many AI workloads, including real-time scene reconstruction and industrial automation, depend on continuous data exchange and predictable latency. The trial demonstrated that reducing handover interruption helps ensure these AI-driven experiences can operate reliably as devices move across the network.
Ericsson played a central role in the development and standardization of LTM within 3GPP. The joint effort highlights the potential for 5G Advanced to deliver consistent user data rates and reduce handover failure rates. The companies stated that the milestone demonstrates how smoother mobility can support responsive services for industries that rely on constant connectivity.
