India Expands collaboration with United Kingdom (UK) in key areas of telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and emerging technologies

India’s Secretary (Telecom) visited the United Kingdom (UK) to engage with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and explore collaboration in next-generation telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and space technology. The visit included meetings with the National Scientific Adviser, Mr. Chris Johnson, and the National Technology Adviser of DSIT, Mr. Dave Smith, focusing on 5G, 6G, and digital infrastructure security. Discussions with the Director of the Digital Directorate, Government of Scotland, Mr. Geoff Huggins, covered digital transformation and telecom security. Field visits included the Federated Telecom Hub (FTH) specializing in Cloud and Distributed Computing (CHEDDAR), Scotland’s 5G Centre at the University of Strathclyde, and the 6G Research Centre at the University of Glasgow's James Watt School of Engineering, fostering innovation in 6G, AI for telecom security, and student exchange programs. A key meeting with the CEO of The Alan Turing Institute, Ms. Jean Innes, explored collaboration in AI ethics, digital twins, and AI-driven telecom security.

The visit also featured the UK-India Telecom Roundtable, organized by the High Commission of India (HCI) and the UK Telecom Innovation Network (UKTIN), bringing together DSIT, British Telecom (BT), Ericsson, and research hubs like SONIC Labs and UK Telecom Labs. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SONIC Labs and the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) for cooperation in Open Radio Access Network and AI applications in 4G/5G. Key collaboration areas identified include Joint Centres of Excellence for telecom cybersecurity and AI, leveraging mobile phone data for infrastructure planning, joint contributions to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for 6G standards (IMT 2030), mutual recognition of testing labs, advancements in quantum communication and submarine cable security, and promoting India’s indigenous 4G/5G stack. Additionally, discussions emphasized collaboration on space technology communication under the Bharat 6G Alliance. This visit reaffirmed India and the UK’s commitment to driving telecom and digital infrastructure innovation, shaping global policies, and fostering AI-driven technological advancements for a digitally inclusive future.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.