Thomas Lyons 
Dell Technologies has opened a new telecoms lab in Cork, Ireland, as part of its €2m investment in the country. The Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab will act as a testbed for Dell customers to test and deploy telecom products using 5G and 6G technologies, making it the only such facility outside the US. The company hopes the lab will accelerate the development of smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies such as automated manufacturing, smart mobility technologies and digital cities. The other lab is located in Round Rock, Texas.
The new lab was officially opened by Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Simon Coveney. Bob Savage, Regional CIO for EMEA and Cork Site Leader at Dell Technologies, said the lab would provide an important space for telecoms providers to collaborate, innovate and push the boundaries of an open and modern telecom system. “This new investment places Cork at the heart of Europe’s open telecom ecosystem. Our talented team of engineers and leading industry partners such as Vodafone, Ericsson, VMware and Druid Software can accelerate the roll-out of next-generation services,” he said.
Mr Coveney said the new lab strengthens Ireland’s position as a hub for emerging technology. “It will also help create new business opportunities linked to 5G and the future roll-out of 6G. I want to congratulate Dell Technologies on this important milestone and look forward to seeing the Lab evolve and grow.”
The lab follows the opening of an Innovation Lab at Dell’s Limerick facility and its redeveloped Customer Solutions Centre in Cork in recent years. The investment is part of Dell Technologies’ strategy to build a global network of telecoms labs, with a focus on emerging technologies and the development of open, standards-based systems. The company is also working with industry partners to develop new applications and services that will drive the growth of the telecoms sector.
Dell Technologies has a long-standing presence in Ireland, with over 6,000 employees across the country. The company’s Irish operations include a global business centre in Dublin, a manufacturing facility in Limerick and a sales and customer support centre in Cork. The investment in the new telecoms lab is part of the company’s commitment to supporting Ireland’s growing technology sector and its position as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The lab will enable Dell customers to test and deploy telecom products using 5G and 6G technologies, and will also provide a space for collaboration and innovation with industry partners such as Vodafone, Ericsson, VMware and Druid Software. The lab is expected to accelerate the development of smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies, including automated manufacturing, smart mobility technologies and digital cities.
The investment in the new lab is part of Dell Technologies’ strategy to build a global network of telecoms labs, with a focus on emerging technologies and the development of open, standards-based systems. The company is working with industry partners to develop new applications and services that will drive the growth of the telecoms sector and support the digital transformation of businesses across all industries.
The opening of the new lab strengthens Ireland’s position as a hub for emerging technology and innovation, and will create new business opportunities linked to 5G and the future roll-out of 6G. Dell Technologies’ investment in the lab is a testament to the country’s strong technology sector and its commitment to supporting the growth of the industry. The lab is expected to evolve and grow in the coming years, as Dell Technologies continues to invest in Ireland and its talented workforce.
