Today at the Mobile World Congress, Ericsson and Facebook announced they will launch a joint innovation lab dubbed the Internet.org Innovation Lab to provide an environment and expertise for optimizing applications, networks, devices and services for the next five billion Internet users.
Ericsson will provide Facebook and application developers the ability to simulate different network environments from around the world. This will allow them to develop and test mobile applications and services. The lab is expected to open in the second half of 2014 on Facebook’s campus in Menlo Park, California, the new lab will tackle the most critical aspects of the Internet.org goal to make Internet access available to all.
“With this lab, developers will be able to simulate network conditions typically found in new markets, giving them an environment to test and optimize their applications under a number of different scenarios,” said Jay Parikh, Vice President of Infrastructure Engineering at Facebook. “This is a unique capability that Ericsson brings to the table and we are happy they have taken a leadership position with us in this initiative.”
Facebook and Ericsson said the lab will facilitate multiple network environments for testing and optimization, all in one location such as the presence of both 2G, 3G, 4G, WiFi and a range of mobile devices to remove physical barriers and access to one network environment.
In a statement Ericsson said it’s over 100 year history of working with bridging the digital divide and Technology for Good in Africa, and this experience will greatly contribute to the goals of Internet.org. This includes making Internet access affordable, using data more efficiently and helping businesses drive access.
“The goals of internet.org are very much aligned with our long-standing ideal that communications is a basic human need,” said Johan Wibergh, Executive Vice President and Ericsson’s Head of Business Unit Networks. “The creation of the lab will provide a unique environment for testing and ultimately optimizing applications regardless of network, device or operating system. The collaboration with app developers will provide Ericsson with invaluable understanding of their requirements on our networks, which we can apply to ensure the continued development of the best performing networks globally.”
