Innovation, to them, is not a race, it’s a long-term commitment. Every technological advancement must answer a core question: “Are we consuming less? Are we reusing more? Are we building to last longer?”
Founded in 1876 in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson began as a small telegraph repair shop by Lars Magnus Ericsson. Nearly 150 years later, it has grown into one of the world’s leading telecommunications companies, pioneering the rollout of 5G networks and digital infrastructure.
In 2023, over 80% of Ericsson’s new radio sites were built with up to 98% recyclable materials. Their systems can be updated remotely via software, extending the lifespan of devices and significantly reducing emissions, something that was once rare in the telecom industry.
Digital infrastructure: The Invisible Engine Of Circular Cities
When discussing sustainability, public imagination tends to gravitate toward solar panels, wind turbines, or recycled materials. But few people think about the invisible digital threads that tie cities together infrastructure that, while unseen, powers everything from transport to energy use.
Ericsson is one of the few companies that designs this layer with sustainability in mind. Through 5G, AI, and IoT, they enable cities to operate not just more efficiently but more consciously.
Some of the most practical applications include:
- Smart street lighting that dims when no vehicles are present, conserving energy without sacrificing safety.
- Air quality monitoring systems that provide real-time warnings and guide policy in dense urban areas.
- Waste collection routing powered by data, ensuring fewer trucks run unnecessary routes.
- Factories with adaptive control systems that adjust energy usage based on time of day and machine load.
These are not concepts; they’re real deployments in places from Singapore to Stockholm and, increasingly, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
This approach not only reduces resource consumption but fosters urban circularity, where energy, data, materials, and human behavior are constantly cycling through intelligent systems, each decision creating less waste and more value.
Circularity Is Not A Goal, It’s A Daily Behavior
Unlike many companies where circularity remains a chapter in an ESG report, Ericsson lives this principle internally.
Here’s how: Their production sites now run on 100% renewable electricity, products are modular by design, easier to upgrade, repair, and recycle. And they’ve built a global network of reverse logistics, retrieving outdated equipment and reintegrating parts into new systems.
In emerging markets like Southeast Asia, where Ericsson is active in Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, they are embedding circular thinking at the design level. Networks deployed here are tailored not only for performance, but also for durability, energy savings, and minimal lifecycle waste.
And circularity is not just about recycling; it’s about rethinking everything, from how hardware is manufactured to how networks are monitored and maintained.
In Sweden, for example, Ericsson has introduced predictive maintenance using AI, reducing the number of truck rolls needed for inspections thereby cutting CO₂ emissions across operations.
Why Vietnam? Ericsson’s Strategic Choice For A Circular Future In Southeast Asia
Vietnam stands at the crossroads of rapid industrial growth and a national ambition to go green. With its young, tech-savvy population, booming urban centers, and government commitment to sustainable development, the country is poised to become a regional hub for green innovation.
Ericsson sees Vietnam as more than just a market, it is a laboratory for applied innovation. Here, the company can pilot next-generation network designs, test real-time AI optimization in dense cities like Ho Chi Minh City, and collaborate with local authorities to embed sustainability from the ground up.
As Rita Mokbel, President and CEO of Ericsson Vietnam, puts it:
“5G is significantly more energy efficient than previous generations, supporting both cost and emission reductions. 5G networks are also playing a multiplier role in addressing climate change by reducing not only the ICT industry’s own emissions but also enabling other sectors to transition toward a low-carbon economy. As Vietnam explores smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0, at Ericsson, we see a strong potential for the advanced connectivity that we provide, to play a pivotal role in enabling greener, more efficient industrial ecosystems."
In Vietnam’s newly established smart urban zones and industrial parks, Ericsson’s solutions are already at work, ensuring the digital backbone is energy-efficient, modular, and built to adapt.
Green Industries Summit 2025 – Spreading The Spirit Of Circularity Through Dialogue
Ericsson’s sustainability journey doesn’t stop at internal practice. This year, they’ll continue amplifying their impact at Green Industries Summit 2025 - a flagship event hosted by Nordcham Vietnam, bringing together green initiatives and cutting-edge sustainable innovations in Vietnam.
Ericsson won’t just be there to share experience, they will be present to lead authentic dialogue on the role of digital infrastructure in enabling a truly circular economy, from design to deployment to reuse.
Vietnam Innovators Digest (VNID), the media partner of the event, will document these conversations in depth. With a commitment to “deep understanding for informed action,” VNID aims to amplify visionary ideas and help Vietnamese businesses navigate the road to ESG transformation.
As the world moves into a post-carbon era, telecommunications infrastructure won’t just connect people, it will connect accountability, transparency, and long-term growth. Ericsson chooses to be the core of that future: quiet, resilient, and deeply human.
Green Industries Summit 2025
Vietnam Innovators Digest is proud to partner with the event as its strategic media ally, working alongside others to spread innovation models that pave the way for a more sustainable Vietnam.
Time: 9:00–15:00, Thursday, June 19, 2025
Venue: Sofitel Saigon Plaza, 17 Le Duan, District 1, HCMC
Register here