Data scientists from Ericsson’s Global AI Accelerator in Montreal will support the three-year research project in close collaboration with professors and researchers from ÉTS, Concordia and Polytechnique
Ericsson Canada has partnered with a group of Montreal-based universities to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can help the telecommunications sector minimize the energy consumption of 5G networks.
In a release, the vendor said that this strategic research program will be led by École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), in partnership with Concordia University, Polytechnique Montréal and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
The project aims to help communication service providers reduce their carbon footprint and cut operational costs by saving on energy.
Erik Ekudden, SVP and CTO at Ericsson, said: “5G networks are the technological backbone of our society and they represent an opportunity to digitalize industries and significantly reduce global CO2 emissions. Under the focused guidance of our partners and with the help of Ericsson experts in Montreal, a leading AI hub, our researchers will test and refine solutions to make 5G and Beyond technologies smarter, more energy-efficient for service providers and cost-efficient for end users.”
Data scientists from Ericsson’s Global Artificial Intelligence Accelerator (GAIA) in Montreal will support the three-year research project in close collaboration with seven professors and 27 researchers from ÉTS, Concordia and Polytechnique and expertise from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Ericsson also aims to bring its global expertise in this area from Ericsson Research to steer the group in standardizing their research findings and drive towards industrialized solutions that can be integrated into its 5G products and services. The outcomes of this research are also expected to strengthen ECCC’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) modeling solutions for the information and communication technologies sector and contribute to global standardization.
Dominique Bérubé, VP of research and graduate studies at Concordia University, said: “A research project of this scale requires the robust support of multiple organizations. With our seasoned history collaborating with Ericsson, it was only natural that Concordia University and our Applied AI Institute, which focuses on finding applied solutions to real world challenges, would participate in this initiative. Sustainability is a major priority for the university and we’re proud to contribute to a project that can reduce the energy consumption of 5G networks.”
Last month, the Ericsson-Carleton Mobile Wireless Lab was officially inaugurated in Carleton University’s ARISE building, in the city of Otawa. The lab is a part of the existing Ericsson partnership with the Carleton University to expand experiential learning and research in wireless communications.
The new lab hosts a private Standalone 5G network that will allow graduate students and researchers to develop, test and optimize state-of-the-art applications.
Rafik Goubran, Carleton’s VP of research and international, said: “The lab will play a significant role in development and dissemination of interdisciplinary research. Through the establishment of the Ericsson Chair in 5G wireless research, student fellowships, educational courses, and research projects – we are building the next generation of talent in this field in Canada.”
