New Delhi, Feb 23: Nokia, the telecom equipment giant, announced a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to advance Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of positioning India as a leader in 6G technology.
The partnership aims to conduct joint research on 6G technologies and use cases with direct societal impact in India. Operating from Nokia’s new 6G Lab in Bengaluru, the collaboration will focus on three key research areas: 6G radio technologies, architecture, and the integration of machine learning into the 6G air interface.
Nishant Batra, Nokia’s Chief Strategy and Technology Officer, emphasized the significance of India’s role in the global telecommunications landscape. He expressed pride in collaborating with top minds from Indian science and academia to ensure that 6G technology contributes significantly to India’s economy.
While the research’s scope is global, Nokia and IISc will prioritize 6G use cases tailored to India’s specific needs. These include developing sustainable and energy-efficient communication systems, enhancing network resilience for critical communications, and leveraging AI and “Network as Sensor” technologies for transportation safety, healthcare, and education.
Professor Govindan Rangarajan, Director of IISc, highlighted the institution’s privilege in contributing to India’s mission of leading 6G technology development by 2030, as outlined in the Bharat 6G Vision document unveiled by PM Modi last year.
The Bharat 6G Vision Document aims for India to play a leading role in designing, developing, and deploying 6G technology by 2030. PM Modi had inaugurated the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area Office and Innovation Centre and unveiled the Bharat 6G Vision Document during a program at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi, in March last year. Additionally, he launched the 6G R&D Test Bed in India during the same event.
