Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) Advances from Labs to Real-World Trials in 5G/6G Networks

Image: A portrait of ISAC Ericsson, a bald white man with a short, dark beard wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and patterned red tie. He faces forward with a neutral expression in front of an American flag. · Source

ISAC technology, turning cellular networks into radar-like sensors, is progressing beyond lab demonstrations with live trials by Ericsson, Verizon, AT&T and others, focusing on drone detection, crowd sensing, and public safety ahead of 6G standardization.

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) technology, which transforms cellular communication networks into sensing platforms by analyzing radio reflections to detect and track objects similarly to radar, is moving from laboratory research to real-world demonstrations and trials. Key industry players including Ericsson, Verizon, AT&T, and government agencies such as the U.S. Department of War (DoW) are advancing ISAC systems primarily within 5G and 6G network frameworks.

Ericsson Federal Technologies Group views ISAC as a potential breakthrough ‘killer app’ for 6G, with the U.S. military taking particular interest in deploying commercial cellular infrastructure for integrated sensing, beyond traditional connectivity uses. The DoW’s FutureG program highlights the increased viability of sensing through denser 5G/6G networks, edge AI capabilities, and broader spectrum access. The objective is to enable nationwide coverage—networking over 70% of U.S. landmass and nearly all of its population—to detect and track threats such as drone swarms even in complex urban environments where standard radar has limitations.

Recent live trials have showcased diverse practical applications. Ericsson and AT&T conducted drone detection demonstrations at the AT&T Stadium in Texas during the FIFA World Cup, while Verizon and Samsung generated crowd density heatmaps to assist with event management and public flow at Dallas’ FanFest. Verizon emphasizes that ISAC, which provides shape and movement data without revealing identities, poses fewer privacy concerns than camera-based monitoring.

The Department of War awarded contracts such as a $28 million deal to Cohere Technologies to build multi-waveform radio access networks capable of identifying drones and aerial threats using commercial cellular systems. European live demonstrations involving Ericsson and Finnish ICT company Erillisverkot successfully tracked small low-altitude drones in a harbor setting.

Verizon’s 6G Innovation Forum, focusing on ISAC and AI wearables, tests systems using high-bandwidth millimeter-wave spectrum to map airborne and ground vehicles’ locations and velocities concurrently with 5G connectivity. Verizon has applied for an experimental license to trial ISAC in Los Angeles, aiming to showcase 6G sensing technologies in advance of the 2028 Olympics.

Comparative approaches in ISAC deployment exist: Huawei reportedly leads with over 300 monostatic ISAC systems—where a single tower transmits and receives reflections—while Ericsson pursues a multistatic configuration involving multiple transmitting and receiving sites for improved accuracy. Ericsson has invested $100 million toward ISAC and expects commercial products within two years, anticipating standards definition discussions at the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference.

ISAC applications extend beyond defense and crowd monitoring to include enterprise scenarios such as digital twins of industrial sites and healthcare monitoring like fall detection. Industry experts note ISAC’s advantage in environments unsuitable for cameras or where infrastructure belongs to third parties. Importantly, ISAC may justify investment in cellular networks for sensing capabilities even when communication needs alone do not.

The ongoing evolution of ISAC technology illustrates a convergence of communication and sensing within cellular infrastructure, heralding new use cases that leverage future 5G-Advanced and 6G systems to provide multifaceted network intelligence and security features.