With connectivity being the digital backbone of the global economy, innovation in the telecoms sector has become imperative to support the world’s economic and societal challenges.
Within this aim, India is well on its way to becoming a global telecoms superpower through its own innovations. With 5G deployment expanding rapidly, for example, half of the population are expected to be on 5G by 2030.
But with such a strong telecoms foundation, the country is well positioned to further accelerate its telecoms growth by partnering with other global leaders in the space.
Collaboration is key
International collaboration will be central to fully benefiting and scaling from telecoms innovation globally. Through India’s journey to becoming that superpower, collaboration can open and boost opportunities for investment and innovation – and from the field of global candidates for potential partnership, the UK is one of the strongest.
Combined with India’s expertise, skills and resources to solve common sector challenges, a partnership could rapidly accelerate the journey for mutual benefit with the UK for many reasons.
Natural synergies
The two markets have natural synergies that can be exploited and advanced through closer collaboration, based around their current priorities. For both countries, these include Quantum computing, 5G and 6G technology development, Open RAN, edge computing, non-terrestrial networks, AI-enhanced network solutions and rural connectivity.
From a partnership perspective, the UK is the definitive R&D destination, with telecoms deeply embedded into the country’s DNA. As the PwC Global CEO Survey’s fourth most favoured investment destination, it has many regional clusters of expertise. Its strengths can also help leverage India’s capabilities with expertise in AI, cybersecurity, software, virtualisation, system integration, testing and semiconductors.
Home to world-beating talent and academia, the UK is also a hub for academic and early-stage research. This makes it an attractive choice for Indian telecoms partners seeking to further research and develop new propositions.
The country is widely known for its robust R&D capabilities in telecoms and there are clear opportunities around 6G. Collaborative partnerships for 6G research, sharing testbeds and other R&D projects could draw on a powerful combination of India’s commitment to advancing 6G and the UK’s next-gen networking investments.
Geographically, the UK also holds a strategic position as a stepping stone to the wider European market and the US, with strong connections to both regions. This is a top priority for many Indian firms looking for investment opportunities and an attractive testbed in which to commercialise R&D.
Current collaboration
Initiatives to support collaboration between India and the UK have already become firmly established, showing a clear appetite for partnership.
One important milestone in the UK and India’s continuing collaboration in telecoms research and innovation was reached in October, by the signing of an important MoU between Bharat 6G Alliance and the UK-India Future Networks Initiative (UKI-FNI), supported by UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN).
The collaboration signifies a crucial step towards harnessing the combined strength of Indian and UK expertise to drive innovation in the development of 6G technology. This partnership will not only address critical technological challenges but also create opportunities for deeper research collaboration, knowledge exchange, and shared vision for building a robust and sustainable 6G ecosystem.
This follows on from the strong progress made in July 2024, for example, with the announcement of the Technology and Security Initiative (TSI), a strategic framework designed to foster deeper collaboration between the two countries.
This initiative, focused on cutting-edge telecoms technologies and bolstering security, is set to unlock new opportunities for both nations, as they strive to be at the forefront of global telecoms advancements.
For India’s telecom companies, the TSI presents a lucrative opportunity to capitalise on the UK’s technological strengths. As telecoms continues to evolve, the TSI will play a key role in ensuring both the UK and India remain competitive in this critical sector. Techob Server