Essential Points
- Microsoft and Ericsson integrate AI-powered 5G management directly into Windows 11, announced February 17, 2026
- Microsoft Intune now provisions, secures, and switches eSIMs across 5G networks with minimal manual IT setup
- Seven leading CSPs across the US, Sweden, Singapore, Japan, Spain, Germany, and Finland are committed to early launch programs
- Broad availability begins Q2 2026, piloted first on Surface Copilot+ PCs with Microsoft 365 and Intune bundles
Enterprise IT just lost its biggest excuse to avoid always-connected laptops. Microsoft and Ericsson have embedded full 5G management directly into Windows 11, transforming cellular connectivity from a manual IT burden into a policy-driven, automated deployment capability. This article breaks down exactly how the joint solution works, which enterprises can deploy now, and what the arrival of a local AI agent on 5G laptops means for real-world workforce productivity.
Why This Changes Enterprise Mobility Permanently
For years, cellular-connected laptops stalled inside enterprise environments. IT teams faced fragmented eSIM provisioning, inconsistent carrier policies, and no integration with existing device management platforms. That barrier is now gone.
The joint solution combines Microsoft Intune with Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect, formerly known as Ericsson Enterprise Virtual Cellular Network (EVCN). The platform uses AI and cloud analytics to continuously monitor network quality and automatically adjust connectivity for optimal performance and security.
Ian LeGrow, Corporate Vice President of Core OS at Microsoft, confirmed: “Windows 11 is the optimal enterprise platform for deploying and managing 5G-connected PCs at scale.” The new 5G management capabilities are being piloted first with Surface Copilot+ PCs and Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect, with IT teams using Microsoft Intune to provision, manage, and secure both devices and 5G connectivity simultaneously.
How Microsoft Intune and Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect Work Together
The joint architecture operates across coordinated layers that eliminate manual IT steps.
- Device management: Microsoft Intune pushes 5G connectivity profiles, policies, and eSIM configurations to every enrolled device automatically
- Network intelligence: Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect monitors signal quality continuously and switches between CSP networks based on enterprise-defined rules
- Local AI agent: A context-aware AI agent runs directly on the Surface 5G laptop, making real-time connectivity decisions without relying on cloud round-trips
Together, these layers ensure that employees moving between locations experience seamless network transitions with no manual intervention and no policy gap, regardless of which CSP network is available.
5 Capabilities IT Teams Gain With This Solution
The joint platform delivers five specific capabilities that address long-standing enterprise mobility challenges.
- Automated eSIM switching: Intune remotely activates and manages eSIM profiles across device fleets without touching individual machines
- Policy-driven carrier selection: IT enforces network priority rules and seamless switching between CSP networks per enterprise policy
- Secure connectivity profiles at scale: Compliance profiles enforce consistent security postures across every 5G-connected laptop regardless of location
- Reduced IT overheads: Automation removes long-standing manual setup challenges in adopting cellular-connected laptops
- Predictable enterprise mobility pathway: Organizations gain a secure, cloud-integrated route to modern mobility powered by Windows 11
Which Markets Are Live and Which Launch in Q2 2026
The solution is now available in four markets as of the February 17, 2026 announcement.
| Market | Carrier Partner | Status |
|---|---|---|
| United States | T-Mobile | Available now |
| Sweden | Telenor | Available now |
| Singapore | Singtel | Available now |
| Japan | SoftBank Corp. | Available now |
| Spain | MasOrange | 2026 |
| Germany | O2 Telefónica Germany | 2026 |
| Finland | Elisa | 2026 |
Seven leading CSPs in total have committed to early launch programs, with broad availability confirmed from Q2 2026. Additional markets beyond these seven have not been specified in the official announcement.
What the Surface Copilot+ 5G Pilot Reveals About the Deployment Model
The solution launches as a bundled package: Surface Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft 365, Intune, and Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect delivered together as an enterprise 5G offering. This bundle structure reflects a deliberate design choice, consolidating hardware, device management, productivity software, and connectivity management under a single commercial arrangement.
The announcement follows several successful multi-market pilots conducted in collaboration with CSPs and global partners. While specific pilot metrics were not disclosed in the official press release, the multi-market scope confirms that the solution has been validated across different carrier environments and geographies before general availability.
The automation capabilities directly address what Ericsson and Microsoft identify as “long-standing challenges in adopting cellular-connected laptops,” specifically minimizing manual setup and ensuring consistent user experience across locations and service providers.
How This Compares to Pre-Existing Enterprise Mobility Approaches
Before this announcement, enterprises managing 5G laptops relied on fragmented approaches with no native OS-level integration. The Microsoft-Ericsson solution builds connectivity management directly into the Windows 11 device stack, rather than layering it on top of existing MDM frameworks.
The key architectural distinction is the local AI agent. Running on the Surface 5G laptop itself, it makes intelligent, context-aware connectivity decisions in real time, optimizing performance for high-value business workflows without requiring a cloud interaction for every decision.
This combination of OS-native integration, Intune policy enforcement, and on-device AI optimization represents a structural change in how enterprise cellular connectivity is managed, not an incremental feature addition.
MWC Barcelona 2026: What Microsoft and Ericsson Will Demonstrate Next
At MWC Barcelona 2026, described by the companies as the world’s largest mobile connectivity expo, Microsoft and Ericsson will provide exclusive insights into future capabilities planned for the solution. Three specific features will be showcased.
- Remotely setting network policies to designate 5G as priority across enrolled devices
- Automatic switching of eSIMs without user interaction
- Live demonstration of the local AI agent on a Surface 5G laptop making context-aware connectivity decisions in real time
These demonstrations signal that the current launch is a foundation for a broader roadmap. Enterprises deploying the solution now position themselves to absorb future AI-driven connectivity upgrades within the same Windows 11 and Intune architecture.
Limitations and Considerations Worth Acknowledging
The solution currently deploys on Surface Copilot+ PCs and requires CSP partnerships that cover only seven announced markets as of February 2026. Enterprises outside those markets must wait for additional 2026 launches or future expansions not yet detailed. Organizations operating non-Windows device fleets gain no direct benefit from this integration. The local AI agent capability requires hardware meeting Copilot+ PC specifications, which may not align with existing laptop refresh cycles at all organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect?
Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect, formerly known as Ericsson Enterprise Virtual Cellular Network (EVCN), is an AI- and cloud-analytics-powered platform that manages 5G laptop connectivity at enterprise scale. It monitors network quality continuously and automatically adjusts connectivity for best performance and security.
Which laptops support the new Windows 11 5G management capabilities?
The solution is currently being piloted with Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PCs bundled with Microsoft 365, Intune, and Ericsson Enterprise 5G Connect. The official announcement does not specify additional OEM hardware support beyond Surface Copilot+ PCs at this stage.
How does Microsoft Intune now manage 5G connections?
Through the joint solution, Microsoft Intune enables IT teams to automatically enforce secure connectivity profiles and enterprise policies across every 5G-connected device. IT can provision, manage, and secure both devices and 5G connectivity simultaneously, minimizing manual setup while ensuring consistent, compliant user experiences.
In which countries is the solution available right now?
As of February 17, 2026, the solution is available in the United States with T-Mobile, Sweden with Telenor, Singapore with Singtel, and Japan with SoftBank Corp. Launches in Spain with MasOrange, Germany with O2 Telefónica Germany, and Finland with Elisa follow during 2026.
What does the local AI agent on the Surface 5G laptop do?
The local AI agent runs on the Surface 5G laptop itself and makes intelligent, context-aware connectivity decisions in real time. It optimizes connectivity performance to ensure consistently smooth, reliable performance for high-value business workflows without requiring a cloud round-trip for each decision.
What problem does this joint solution directly solve for IT teams?
The solution removes long-standing challenges in adopting cellular-connected laptops by minimizing manual setup and ensuring consistent user experience across locations and service providers. It also reduces IT overheads and provides enterprises with a predictable, secure pathway to modern mobility capabilities.
Does this solution work on operating systems other than Windows 11?
The official announcement specifies integration with Windows 11 only. No equivalent integration for macOS, ChromeOS, or other operating systems is mentioned in the official Ericsson or Microsoft press materials.
