Surface goes all‑in on 5G: Firmware fix and Microsoft–Ericsson tie‑up put always‑connected PCs front and center

Microsoft Surface doubles down on always‑connected PCs: firmware fix lands as new 5G partnership debuts

Microsoft’s Surface team is leaning hard into “always connected” computing. In the past week, the company rolled out a February firmware update for Surface Pro (11th Edition) that targets cellular reliability issues, while also unveiling a Windows 11 enterprise push with Ericsson to standardize and secure 5G on laptops—starting with Surface Copilot+ PCs. The timing—just ahead of MWC Barcelona 2026—signals that connectivity is becoming as strategic as CPUs and NPUs in Microsoft’s Surface roadmap. (support.microsoft.com)

What’s new: a policy‑driven 5G stack for Windows 11—and Surface first

On February 17, 2026, Microsoft and Ericsson announced enterprise‑grade 5G management built directly into Windows 11. The joint solution combines Microsoft Intune with Ericsson’s Enterprise 5G Connect platform to automate secure connectivity, enable automatic eSIM switching, and enforce IT policies across fleets of laptops. Initial bundles will pair the service with Surface Copilot+ PCs (Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11), Microsoft 365, and Intune. Early carrier partners include T‑Mobile (US), Telenor (Sweden), Singtel (Singapore), and SoftBank (Japan), with broader availability slated from Q2 2026. (ericsson.com)

Why it matters: cellular‑managed PCs have long been painful to deploy at scale. With Intune acting as the policy brain and Ericsson’s platform handling real‑time network intelligence, Microsoft is attempting to make 5G laptops as manageable as Wi‑Fi endpoints—without sacrificing security. For Surface specifically, the move dovetails with the line’s 5G‑capable Copilot+ hardware and Microsoft’s chip‑to‑cloud security posture. (blogs.windows.com)

The timely fix: Surface Pro (11th Edition) firmware update

Microsoft shipped a February 18, 2026 firmware package for Surface Pro (11th Edition) that addresses several reliability problems, notably a bug that killed cellular connectivity when a VPN was active and an issue that reverted eSIM settings back to a physical SIM. The update also includes fixes for Teams instability, Surface Dock 2 compatibility, and Dolby Vision playback. For IT, the practical takeaway is fewer help‑desk tickets as 5G adoption accelerates. (support.microsoft.com)

Reporting on February 23, 2026, highlighted how the patch lands just as Microsoft courts enterprises with managed 5G bundles—reducing friction for pilots rolling out now. (windowscentral.com)

How to get it

• Use Windows Update or the Surface app to install the latest drivers/firmware. Note that firmware can’t be rolled back once applied. (support.microsoft.com)

Copilot+ era context: why Surface is built for this moment

Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs—launched on May 20, 2024—reimagined Windows laptops with NPUs capable of 40+ TOPS, long battery life, and on‑device AI experiences. Surface led the charge with a redesigned Surface Pro and Surface Laptop powered by Snapdragon X Elite/X Plus, optional OLED on Pro, Wi‑Fi 7, and support for up to three external 4K displays. Microsoft positioned these models as up to 86% faster than Surface Laptop 5, with battery life claims up to 22 hours on the 15‑inch Laptop. (blogs.windows.com)

Availability for the first wave began June 18, 2024, with prices starting at $999. The new 5G/Intune/Ericsson bundles build on that foundation by making connectivity as turnkey as identity and patching. (blogs.microsoft.com)

Reality check: ARM progress is real—but mind the edge cases

Early Copilot+ reviews in 2024 praised performance and battery life but flagged weak gaming and emulation results on Snapdragon X Elite compared to x86 systems. That gap has narrowed with native app growth and Windows’ Prism emulator, yet organizations with specialized x86 apps or GPU‑bound workflows should still validate before mass deployment. (digitaltrends.com)

Privacy and security backdrop: lessons from Recall

Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature—announced in 2024 as a PC “photographic memory”—shifted to opt‑in with added protections (Windows Hello, encrypted index, just‑in‑time decryption) after backlash and entered broader Insider testing in 2025. The arc underscores Microsoft’s recent pattern: ship ambitious AI features, then iterate hard on security and admin controls. That mindset now appears embedded in the 5G initiative rolling out to Surface fleets. (blogs.windows.com)

What IT should do now

• Shortlist pilot groups on Surface Pro (11th Edition) and Surface Laptop 7 with 5G modems; apply the February 18 firmware before field testing. (support.microsoft.com)
• In Intune, model policies for automatic eSIM provisioning, per‑app VPN, and carrier‑handoff behavior; validate roaming rules for traveling staff. (ericsson.com)
• Update threat models to account for “always connected” endpoints: review conditional access, Defender for Endpoint baselines, and data‑loss controls for cellular scenarios. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
• Establish SLAs with participating carriers (e.g., T‑Mobile in the US) for enterprise features like prioritized 5G slices and support escalation. (ericsson.com)

The big picture

Surface’s strategy for 2026 blends three threads: AI‑native hardware (NPU‑first Copilot+ PCs), enterprise‑grade manageability (Intune at the center), and ubiquitous connectivity (policy‑driven 5G). The firmware clean‑up on Surface Pro (11th Edition) removes practical blockers while the Ericsson partnership aims to make cellular as predictable as Wi‑Fi at scale. For knowledge workers who roam between offices, homes, client sites, and airports, that could matter more than a few percentage points of CPU benchmarks. Expect a busy Q2 as pilot programs expand beyond the first wave of carriers—and watch for Microsoft to keep tuning both Windows and Surface around the idea that a laptop should be secure, smart, and connected everywhere by default. (support.microsoft.com)