Ericsson and Cisco have extended their strategic partnership to include a new WiFi solution offering, named Evolved WiFi Networks (EWN).

EWN combines Ericsson's 3GPP access, core networks and applications with Cisco's WiFi portfolio.

The offering will include pre-integrated and verified solutions and will offer a range of benefits like indoor small cells, operator WiFi, traffic steering, and core network integration.

Rima Qureshi, head of Region North America with responsibility for the strategic partnership with Cisco, Ericsson, said: "Our strategic partnership brings together the capabilities of two leading players in networking, mobility and cloud, creating the best end-to-end solutions and opportunities for our customers. By adding WiFi solutions into the partnership, we will enable our customers to offer best-in-class WiFi in their networks, complemented by our leading 3GPP portfolio and services organisation."

Yvette Kanouff, SVP & GM of the service provider business unit, Cisco, added: "With WiFi traffic predicted to grow to 50 percent of the total IP traffic by 2020, a top priority for service providers is to deliver the best possible connected experiences to their customers. Through our extended strategic partnership with Ericsson, we are committed to providing WiFi solutions of the highest quality performance and reliability."

The design and deployment of solutions based on the new offering will be handled by Ericsson's services organisation, with full product support from Cisco. EWN can be offered as a fully managed service.

Ericsson and Cisco formed a global business and technology partnership in November 2015.