New research project will integrate agentic AI in mobile and wireless communication systems

Posted on: 29 October 2025

At its core, NAIRA seeks to embed AI natively within the very architecture of the Radio Access Network (RAN), moving beyond traditional approaches where AI operates as an external optimisation tool.

This shift introduces Agentic AI, a new class of autonomous, goal driven agents that can make local and collective decisions across the network. By doing so, NAIRA will enable networks that can autonomously reconfigure, and optimise, while dynamically balancing energy efficiency, service quality, and operational cost.

The three-year project, funded for €2.5 million via Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF), will be coordinated by Prof. Marco Ruffini from Trinity’s School of Computer Science and Statistics and the ADAPT Research Ireland Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, and his co-PI, Dr Merim Dzaferagic.

Industry partners include Dell Technologies, Red Hat Ltd., Intel Research and Development Ireland Ltd., Software Research Systems Ltd., and Tyndall National Institute.

Prof. Marco Ruffini said: “NAIRA responds to the rapidly growing energy consumption of communication infrastructures, which is one of the most pressing global challenges – both from a logistical and sustainability perspective.”

“As data traffic continues to rise and connectivity becomes ubiquitous, mobile networks have emerged as a major source of energy demand within the ICT sector. NAIRA will address this issue by combining the latest innovations in AI, distributed intelligence, and Open RAN architectures to deliver a sustainable, high-performance framework for the networks of the future.”

Dr Merim Dzaferagic added: “By enabling intelligent collaboration among network components and continuous learning at the edge, NAIRA will demonstrate how artificial intelligence can be harnessed to drastically reduce energy use without compromising connectivity or user experience.”

“Its outcomes will contribute directly to Europe’s green and digital transitions, setting the stage for AI-native 6G systems that are both sustainable and self-evolving.”

NAIRA was announced last week, along with another five newly funded DTIF projects, by Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Jenny Melia, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said: “The latest tranche of DTIF funding is an important solution for Enterprise Ireland clients in supporting them to transform and underpin their ability to scale, extend their global reach and create high quality jobs. It is exciting to see high potential start-ups (HPSUs) leading the development of disruptive technologies in areas such as transport logistics and quantum computing and collaborating with established multinational companies and research institutions.“

• Tags:
• Awards and Funding
• Research
• Science