Athlone Chosen as Global R&D Hub as Ericsson Unveils Major Investment in Open 5G Networks

(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.)

(IN BRIEF) Ericsson is investing €200 million over three years in a major RD&I project at its Athlone facility in Ireland, with support from the Irish Government and IDA Ireland. The initiative will advance open, programmable 5G network management through its Intelligent Automation Platform and new rApps, enabling communications service providers to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and accelerate innovation. The project reinforces Ireland’s role as a core hub for Ericsson’s global operations and highlights its long-standing presence and investment in the country’s tech ecosystem.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 24-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Ericsson is set to invest €200 million over the next three years to accelerate the development of advanced network management and automation capabilities at its Athlone site in Ireland. This landmark research, development, and innovation (RD&I) initiative, backed by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, cements Ireland’s role as a strategic hub for 5G technology.

The investment will drive progress in managing high-performing, open programmable networks that are essential for the global expansion of 5G Standalone (SA) connectivity. Ericsson’s efforts will focus on its Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP) and the creation of rApps—radio access network automation applications—that enhance network performance, support disaggregated deployments, and streamline operational efficiency for communications service providers (CSPs).

Developed largely in Athlone, EIAP is designed as an open, multi-vendor platform supporting 4G and 5G RANs, enabling partners to integrate their rApps into a common ecosystem. This facilitates collaboration, shortens innovation cycles, and helps CSPs leverage AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics for autonomous operations.

With this investment, Ericsson aims to bolster global 5G network innovation while reinforcing Ireland’s status as a technological leader. Ericsson currently employs more than 1,300 people in Ireland and has maintained operations in Athlone for over five decades.

Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, TD, praised the announcement, calling it “fantastic news” for regional development and the continued evolution of Ireland’s tech landscape. Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, echoed this sentiment, adding that the project perfectly aligns with IDA’s national growth strategy.

Denis Dullea, Head of Ericsson Athlone, emphasized that this commitment reflects Ericsson’s confidence in Irish talent and its long-standing partnership with IDA Ireland. “With this €200 million project, we’re not only reaffirming Athlone’s importance within Ericsson’s global operations, but also investing in Ireland’s future. This effort supports innovation that will benefit mobile operators worldwide and marks another milestone in our five-decade journey in Ireland,” Dullea said.

Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson, joined the official announcement alongside Minister Burke, IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan, and other senior leaders from Ericsson and the Irish government. The event underlined Ericsson’s role as a key contributor to both the global 5G ecosystem and regional job creation.

As part of the new initiative, the Athlone facility will lead the integration of open, programmable network solutions that promise to reduce costs and enhance service delivery for CSPs. These innovations will play a critical role in shaping the next phase of digital infrastructure, offering benefits in network flexibility, efficiency, and intelligent automation.

The investment further strengthens the collaborative relationship between Ericsson and Ireland—one that began over 50 years ago when IDA Ireland supported the company’s original move into Athlone. This new chapter, driven by RD&I, AI, and global connectivity ambitions, places Ireland at the center of Ericsson’s strategy to transform how mobile networks operate and scale.

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SOURCE: ERICSSON