Ericsson is pumping €200 million over three years in its Athlone facility to accelerate the development of open, programmable 5G networks.
The investment will focus on the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP), and network powered rApps (applications to automate radio access network management and optimization).
The investment will drive advancements in AI-powered applications that automate radio network management. Athlone, has been a key Ericsson R&D site for over 50 years, will play a central role in expanding multi-vendor 5G network capabilities worldwide.
“This investment secures Athlone’s future as a leader in intelligent network management,” said Peter Burke TD, Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment.
The project is set to boost network efficiency, support autonomous operations, and solidify Ericsson’s long-standing presence in Ireland.
Ericsson currently employs more than 1,300 people in Ireland, with the Athlone facility serving as the company’s designated centre of excellence for intelligent network management. The company came to Athlone in 1974. Supported by the Irish Government and IDA Ireland, the Athlone facility brings together global talent and pioneering technology to transform network management, providing benefits to Ericsson’s global customer base
(Main Photo L-R: IDA Ireland, CEO, Michael Lohan; Ericsson President and CEO, Börje Ekholm; Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Peter Burke, TD; Head of BA Cloud Software and Services, Ericsson, Jenny Lindqvist; Head of Ericsson Athlone, Denis Dullea.)