Ericsson will open a new telecom R&D center in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai 21 district, strengthening its radio development capabilities in Japan. The facility will begin operations in April 2026, with an official inauguration planned for the first half of 2027. The company expects to create up to 300 R&D positions as part of the expansion announced in May 2025.
Jan Fallgren will lead the Ericsson Radio R&D team in Japan, focusing on next-generation communications technologies and integration with Ericsson’s global engineering organization. The new center will develop advanced radio hardware and software targeting both Japanese operators and international markets. Research priorities include high-performance programmable 5G networks, emerging 6G technologies, and open network architectures such as O-RAN.
The Yokohama site will also support ecosystem collaboration through dedicated office and lab space for customers, academic institutions, startups, and government agencies. Ericsson said the facility will contribute to international standardization efforts and help strengthen Japan’s telecom engineering base while integrating with its global R&D network, where the company invests approximately USD 5 billion annually.
- Location: Minato Mirai 21 district, Yokohama, Japan
- Operations start: April 2026
- Official inauguration: First half 2027
- Leadership: Jan Fallgren, Head of Ericsson Radio R&D in Japan
- Hiring plan: Up to 300 R&D roles
- Focus areas: Advanced radio hardware and software, programmable 5G, 6G research, O-RAN, AI-powered and energy-efficient network technologies
- Collaboration: Japanese operators, universities, startups, government agencies; participation in international standards bodies
Chafic Nassif, Head of Ericsson Market Area Northeast Asia, said: “Telecom is critical infrastructure that must be both high-performing and secure at all times. Our expansion in Yokohama is not only about building more R&D capacity, it is about working even more closely with Japanese customers and partners. By co-innovating in Japan for the world, we will strengthen the broader Japanese ICT ecosystem and support the country’s digital transformation and economic security.”
🌐 Analysis: Ericsson’s decision to scale radio R&D in Japan reflects the country’s continued role in shaping advanced RAN architectures and early 6G research, where Japanese operators and government agencies remain active contributors to global standards. The move also aligns with broader industry shifts toward open and programmable RAN platforms, as competitors including Nokia and Samsung Electronics expand their own 5G and 6G research collaborations in Asia to influence next-generation network specifications and ecosystem partnerships.
