By Business & Finance 
Ericsson has announced a significant €200 million investment over the next three years, supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.
Ericsson, the Swedish mobile technology brand, has announced a significant €200 million investment over the next three years in a research, development, and innovation (RD&I) project at the company’s Athlone facility in central Ireland.
The project will advance support for “open, multi-vendor, disaggregated and programmable network deployments”, with the investment focusing on the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP), and network powered rApps (applications to automate radio access network management and optimization).
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 CSPs to readily 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 (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and advanced analytics.
Ericsson’s presence in Ireland spans five decades. The company first set up in Ireland in 1957, and fifteen years later, in 1972, it opened its operations in Athlone. At the time, the Midlands site was a manufacturing operation. It has, over time, transformed into a software development hub
Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise Tourism & Employment, Peter Burke, TD, says: “Ericsson’s €200 million announcement at their Athlone facility is fantastic news. Their innovative R&D project, which will span a duration of three years, will improve efficiency in 5G networks globally. Ericsson have been established in Ireland for decades, with the Athlone facility a significant employer and an integral part of the fabric of the community for over 50 years.
“It is really encouraging that Ericsson have once again cemented Athlone as key base for the company, selecting the campus and the staff based here to lead this pioneering work. I wish all the team in Ericsson the very best with this exciting new chapter.”
Ericsson currently employs more than 1,300 people in the country, with the Athlone facility serving as the company’s designated center of excellence for intelligent network management.
Denis Dullea, Head of Ericsson’s Athlone site and Network Management Engineering Unit, says: “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.”
