With Intention 6G, Ericsson France drives the evolution of mobile networks

• Through its R&D center, Ericsson France is leading a strategic project supported by France 2030 to design 5G/6G networks powered by artificial intelligence
• A flagship initiative that brings together a public‑private ecosystem in support of innovation and European digital sovereignty

As digital uses diversify and intensify, mobile networks are becoming critical infrastructure for economies and societies. Artificial intelligence, connected industries, mission critical services and immersive experiences are all developments that require a profound rethink of how networks are designed, operated and optimized.

In this context, at Viva Technology 2026, Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) is highlighting its contribution to the INTENTION 6G project, supported under the France 2030 plan and co funded by Bpifrance. Led by Ericsson, the project is being carried out with a consortium that also includes Orange, BubbleRAN and CentraleSupélec.

With a budget of more than 12 million euros over four years, INTENTION 6G aims to optimize the energy consumption of the Radio Access Network (RAN) while meeting 5G/6G traffic requirements. At the heart of the project is the integration of artificial intelligence into network control, particularly at RAN level, to improve both performance and energy efficiency. The project has now reached its mid development phase, enabling the first technology building blocks to be defined.

A collective drive to shape tomorrow’s networks

Beyond the technological developments, INTENTION 6G is based on a public private partnership approach that combines industrial, academic and entrepreneurial expertise. The project makes it possible to design, test and validate new solutions through demonstrators and experimental platforms, with a view to their gradual integration into tomorrow’s networks.

Several key areas structure the work: advanced automation of network functions, dynamic optimization of energy consumption, and the development of so called “intent based” networks, capable of automatically adjusting their performance to usage and needs thanks to artificial intelligence.

Christian Leon, Head of Ericsson Western Europe, says: “Mobile networks are evolving to meet ever increasing requirements in terms of performance, energy efficiency and resource optimization. With INTENTION 6G, Ericsson France’s R&D center is actively contributing, alongside leading French partners, to laying today the foundations for the networks that will support tomorrow’s critical use cases and digital transformations.”

Ericsson France R&D center at the heart of innovation

Building on its R&D center in France, opened in 2020, Ericsson leverages its expertise in next generation network technologies. The teams involved are particularly specialized in 6G research, AI native networks, critical networks and cybersecurity. The center has already contributed to a portfolio of more than 180 patents in mobile technologies and is part of a strong ecosystem of academic and industrial partners in France.

By mobilizing its innovation capabilities and drawing on a rich and committed ecosystem, Ericsson is helping to prepare a new generation of networks that are smarter, more flexible and more sustainable.