Verizon is often overshadowed by AT&T when it comes to cutting-edge network architectures in the USA, but it also has significant roadmaps for virtualization, 5G and the cloud-native core. It has just started a new core network trial with Ericsson, designed to ease the migration path to Standalone 5G, which requires a full 5G core. It is not putting a timescale on the commercial launch, but the US majors are expected to switch on 5G Standalone at an early stage, possibly before the middle of next year. This trial is the first of a container-based, cloud-native 4G evolved packet core (EPC) in a live network, said the US telco. The 5G core will build on development and investment made in…