Nokia to Boost India R&D Operations and Skill Youth in Advanced Telecom

Nokia is set to expand its research and development (R&D) operations in India by hiring more local talent, reinforcing its three-decade-long commitment to the country. Speaking at a BSNL event, Nokia India Country Manager Tarun Chhabra said the company aims to strengthen its role in upskilling Indian professionals and creating employment opportunities in cutting-edge technology domains.

Currently, Nokia’s R&D centre in India employs around 8,000 people, while another 4,000 support its global service operations from the country. Chhabra stressed the growing global demand for cybersecurity expertise and highlighted India’s potential to become a hub for such talent. “We are committed to skilling Indian people and hiring them in our R&D centres to contribute to future innovations,” he said.

The announcement came during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BSNL and global telecom leaders Nokia, Ericsson, Cisco, and Qualcomm. The partnership will roll out advanced training programmes in 5G, artificial intelligence, machine learning, networking, and digital technologies at BSNL’s Bharat Ratna Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute of Telecom Training (BRBRAITT) in Jabalpur.

Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia described the initiative as a significant step towards the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, enabling India’s talent to transition from the services sector to product innovation in the telecom industry. He called it the “beginning of a new journey” to integrate Indian talent into the global value chain.

As part of the initiative, Nokia will train 300 students annually in 5G radio, core networks, and AI/ML applications. Ericsson will provide hands-on 5G training and online learning modules for over 2,000 students each year through the Ericsson Educate Program.

Qualcomm will establish a Qualcomm Institute at BRBRAITT to deliver advanced training in 5G and AI for students, BSNL trainers, and government stakeholders. Cisco will offer free access to its digital curriculum and tools, with BSNL facilitating implementation across non-profit educational institutions nationwide to ensure equitable access to digital learning.

The collaboration aims to build a future-ready, job-ready workforce capable of leading innovations in 5G, IoT, and advanced telecom technologies, positioning India as a global telecom innovation hub.

Source: The Economic Times