Ericsson, Nokia offer contrasting timelines for 5G network upgrades

By Eric Auchard BARCELONA (Reuters) - Ericsson , the world's top supplier of wireless equipment, said on Monday it expects 150 million users to be on next-generation 5G networks five years from now, steering clear of an industry debate over whether network upgrades could start far earlier. By contrast, rival mobile equipment maker Nokia said on Sunday the shift to "5G-ready" wireless networks could begin to ramp up as early as 2017, well ahead of any final agreement on formal 5G standards. "5G w