India Boosts Global Telecom Role with Ericsson’s First Local Antenna Unit

In a significant step toward strengthening India’s telecom manufacturing capabilities, Union Minister for Communications and DONER, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, inaugurated Ericsson’s first India-made antenna facility at VVDN’s Global Innovation Park in Manesar. The facility will produce export-ready passive antennas to support next-generation, high-performance networks globally, showcasing India’s rising potential as a telecom manufacturing hub.

Calling it a landmark moment, Scindia emphasized that the initiative goes beyond setting up a manufacturing unit—it marks a major milestone in India’s digital transformation and global manufacturing ambitions. He highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the “Make in India” movement is evolving into a “Make for the World” initiative, reinforcing India’s position in the global value chain.

Developed through collaboration between Ericsson and VVDN Technologies, this is Ericsson’s first antenna production facility in India. It will begin shipments by July 2025 and is expected to localize over 50% of its production, adhering to stringent domestic and international standards.

Scindia acknowledged the vital role of global technology giants like Ericsson, Apple, Google, and Qualcomm in advancing India’s telecom sector. He noted that their investments are not limited to finance but include world-class technology, production capabilities, and upskilling of Indian engineers. Ericsson’s initiatives such as network automation, APIs, and its AI accelerator in Bengaluru were also credited for boosting India’s telecom innovation.

The Minister praised India’s robust policy support for this growth. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme alone has attracted investments of ₹4,000 crore, resulting in ₹80,000 crore in output and over 34,000 jobs. Liberalized FDI norms have brought in over USD 39 billion since 2000, and telecom now contributes nearly 7% to the nation’s GDP.

Further, the government and Ericsson are nurturing the future workforce. Through the Department of Telecommunications’ 5G labs and Ericsson’s ‘Educate’ program, over 10,000 students are gaining knowledge in AI, IoT, and future telecom technologies—powering India’s digital future.

Source: PIB