Ericsson invests €200m in R&D project at Athlone

Project to advance support for programmable communications network deployments

Trade

Michael Lohan, IDA; Börje Ekholm, Ericsson; Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke; Jenny Lindqvist and Denis Dullea, Ericsson

Ericsson has announced a significant €200 million investment over the next three years in a pioneering research, development, and innovation project at the company’s Athlone base.

The project, supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, will advance support for open, multi-vendor, disaggregated and programmable network deployments. The investment will focus on the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP), and network powered rApps (applications to automate radio access network management and optimisation).

EIAP is Ericsson’s open network management and automation platform for multi-vendor and multi-technology 4G and 5G Radio Access Networks (RAN), which is largely designed at the Athlone site.

The platform provides an open environment for developing and running rApps from any vendor and radio technology, enabling communications service providers (CSP) to introduce innovations from diverse technology partners. With broad ecosystem support, this open framework for rApp development aims to accelerate the pace of RAN innovation through collaboration across an expanding partner network.

The investment aims to deliver next-generation open network management and automation capabilities with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics. Such capabilities will help CSPs to improve network performance, accelerate innovation cycles, and reduce costs through autonomous network operations.

Ericsson employs more than 1,300 people, with the Athlone facility serving as the company’s designated centre of excellence for intelligent network management.

Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA, said: ”Ericsson’s… investment strengthens the long-term legacy of Ericsson in Ireland, building on the success of past investments spanning more than 60 years. This RD&I project embodies cutting-edge innovation, exemplifies IDA’s continued commitment to balanced regional development.”

Denis Dullea, head of Ericsson’s Athlone site and network management engineering unit, said: “Ericsson has a long history and deep roots in Ireland spanning more than 50 years. This €200 million investment, supported by the IDA and Irish government, is a testament to our commitment to Ireland and confidence in our exceptional talent here. By delivering on this cutting-edge project, we’re both investing in Ireland’s future and empowering mobile operators worldwide.”

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