Future Telecoms in India 2024
Over the course of May and June 2024, Innovate UK, in collaboration with UKRI India and the Indian Department of Telecommunications (DoT), delivered a Global Expert Mission, bringing together key government and R&D experts from the UK and India. The GEM facilitated the exchange of knowledge, provided discussion opportunities, and generated a deep understanding of telecom priority areas for the UK and India.
Top Five Insights
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The UK and India are prioritising the development of 5G, 6G, and diversified telecom supply chains, continuing their collaborative approach in the telecom sector.
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The India Telecoms GEM explored innovation opportunities in 5G, Open-RAN, 6G, and quantum technologies, identifying shared interests in security, AI applications, cloud-based Open-RAN, and non-terrestrial networks.
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Both nations are keen on conducting joint trials involving academics and labs, facilitating the exchange of devices, knowledge, and physical resources.
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Barriers include strengthening the commercialisation pipeline for 5G, Open-RAN, and quantum communication, promoting higher Technology Readiness Levels in academic research, and managing joint network operations between labs.
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Key initiatives include innovation partnerships, leveraging existing programs like the UK-India Future Networks Initiative (UKI-FTN) and UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN), securing joint funding, and supporting start-ups and scale-ups in prototyping devices.
Abstract from outcome report:
In collaboration with UKRI India and the Indian Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the online India Telecoms Global Expert Mission (GEM) explored the innovation landscape within 5G, Open-RAN, 6G, and quantum technologies in both countries. This mission brought together key government and R&D experts from the UK and India, facilitating the exchange of knowledge on present and future telecom priority areas. It provided insights into the challenges and opportunities in the two markets, and explored potential collaborations, development of partnerships, and grounds for long-term engagement through collaborative R&D and business innovation programmes.
Watch the dissemination webinar recording
About Global Expert Missions
The Global Expert Missions (GEM) programme is funded by Innovate UK and designed to build international collaborations with governments, societies, enterprises, institutions, and people from every corner of the globe. With global challenges requiring international perspectives, the programme aims to support the UK government’s ambition to be the international partner of choice and a global hub for innovation by 2035.