L.M. ERICSSON LIMITED

Their core work

L.M. Ericsson Limited is the Irish subsidiary of the Ericsson Group, focused on next-generation telecommunications infrastructure — particularly 5G network architecture, management, and orchestration. Within H2020, they contributed expertise in network slicing, distributed network management, and multi-tenant private networks, working on the practical deployment and validation of 5G systems for vertical industries. Their work spans from experimental network architectures (RINA) to real-world 5G trials integrating AI-driven automation and zero-touch service management.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Ericsson Ireland began its H2020 participation in 2016 with experimental work on alternative network architectures (RINA) and large-scale testbed experimentation. From 2018 onward, they shifted decisively into 5G — first with end-to-end system integration and field trials, then into more advanced topics like network slicing, zero-touch automation, AI-driven management, and private multi-tenant networks. The trajectory shows a clear move from foundational networking research toward production-ready 5G and beyond-5G systems with increasing emphasis on automation and intelligence.

Ericsson Ireland is moving toward AI-powered, zero-touch 5G and beyond-5G network management — positioning them for 6G-era autonomous network orchestration.

How they like to work

Ericsson Ireland primarily operates as a participant in large consortia (4 out of 5 projects), contributing telecom industry expertise to research-driven partnerships. With 92 unique partners across 17 countries, they maintain a broad and diverse network rather than relying on repeat collaborations. Their single coordination role (ARCFIRE) shows they can lead when the topic aligns closely with their core competence, but they generally prefer the role of an industrial partner bringing real-world deployment knowledge to academic-led projects.

Extensive European network spanning 92 unique partners across 17 countries, reflecting participation in large 5G-PPP consortia that bring together telcos, equipment vendors, universities, and vertical industry players.

What sets them apart

As a subsidiary of one of the world's largest telecom equipment manufacturers, Ericsson Ireland brings unmatched industrial credibility to 5G research consortia — they don't just study networks, they build and deploy them globally. Their combination of RINA architecture research and practical 5G trial experience gives them a rare bridge between experimental networking concepts and real-world telecom infrastructure. For consortium builders, partnering with Ericsson Ireland means access to operator-grade testing environments, industry requirements, and a path from research to commercial deployment.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ARCFIRE
  Only project where Ericsson Ireland served as coordinator — a focused effort to benchmark RINA as an alternative to traditional internet architecture.
• 5G-SOLUTIONS
  Largest funding (EUR 519K) and broadest scope — demonstrating 5G across multiple vertical industries with advanced field trials under the 5G-PPP programme.
• MonB5G
  Forward-looking beyond-5G work combining network slicing with machine learning and zero-touch automation — signals their direction toward 6G research.