Ericsson to Invest €200 Million into Open Network Research

Ericsson announced it would invest €200 million in research in open networks and automation for 5G. The research will be conducted at its Athlone facility in Ireland.

The vendor said the three-year project is backed by the Irish government, with the investment reinforcing its commitment to helping establish the nation as a strategic hub for R&D. The company explained the project will advance support for open, multi-vendor, disaggregated, and programmable network deployments, focusing on the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP) and its network powered rApps portfolio.

The €200 million outlay will aim to deliver next-generation network management capabilities integrating AI, ML, and advanced analytics, added the vendor. Peter Burke, Ireland’s minister for enterprise, trade, and employment, said the project will essentially aim to improve efficiency in 5G networks globally. Denis Dullea, head of the Athlone site for Ericsson, added that the investment was a testament to its commitment to the country.

Open programmable networks are indeed a big focus for Ericsson. CEO Borje Ekholm called out its first deal in the area in Asia-Pacific with Telstra as a Q1 highlight during its latest results announcement, released last week. The company is also working on open networks with AT&T in the US, after striking a big-money deal at the end of 2023.