India has expanded collaboration with the United Kingdom (UK) in key areas of telecom, artificial intelligence (AI), and other emerging technologies. Dr Neeraj Mittal, secretary (T), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), had visited the UK to engage with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), UK and explore opportunities for collaboration in next-generation telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and space technology, further strengthening Indo-UK ties in these critical areas.

He also met with Chris Johnson, national scientific adviser, and Dave Smith, national technology adviser, DSIT. The discussions centred on emerging technologies and their applications in 5G, 6G, digital infrastructure security. The secretary also met with Geoff Huggins, director, Digital Directorate, Government of Scotland, to discuss collaborative efforts in digital transformation through telecom, telecom security, and emerging telecom technologies.

Further, Mittal held a field visit at one of the six federated telecom hubs (FTH) in the UK, specialising in cloud and distributed computing (CHEDDAR). This hub leads cutting-edge research in 6G distributed cloud, AI for 6G, green 6G, and advanced sensing technologies. Furthermore, Dr Mittal met with Jean Innes, chief executive officer (CEO), Alan Turing Institute, for discussions on potential collaboration in digital twins, AI for telecom security, ethical AI, and fostering an AI innovation and start-up ecosystem.

Additionally, the secretary visited 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. These visits facilitated discussions on collaboration in 6G innovation, future sensing technologies, the exchange of technology such as the 5G stack, and student exchange programs to foster academic and industrial partnerships.

Building on the strong foundation of the UK-India Technology Security Initiative (TSI), where telecom remains a key priority, a roundtable discussion was convened with key UK stakeholders from DSIT, leading business entities such as BT and Ericsson, and innovation hubs and centres, including SONIC Labs, UK Telecom Labs, TITAN, JOINER. Representatives from the UK Space Agency, European Space Agency, Innovate UK, and the UK Technology Innovation Network (UKTIN) also participated, exploring avenues for mutual cooperation. The roundtable was organised by the High Commission of India (HCI) in partnership with UKTIN. Dr Mittal highlighted India’s leadership in the telecom sector and its rapid advancements in next-generation network technologies.

Following the roundtable, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between SONIC Labs and the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT). The agreement focuses on open radio access network (O-RAN)-related policy and technical matters, including 5G Open RAN and artificial intelligence in 4G/5G

Other key areas of collaboration which have been identified during the deliberations with various stakeholders on the telecom ecosystem of UK:

  • Establishment of a joint centres of excellence focusing on telecom cybersecurity, AI in telecom, and digital twins.
  • Collaborative initiatives with British telcos to leverage mobile phone data for infrastructure planning, building upon India’s success in using such data for metro route planning.
  • Joint contributions to ITU for the development of 6G standards (IMT 2030).
  • Mutual recognition of testing labs and the establishment of new testing facilities.
  • Collaboration on digital twins, including standardisation frameworks, privacy-enhancing technologies, and cross-sectoral data applications.
  • Advancing quantum communication solutions and submarine sea cable security.
  • Promoting the Indigenous 4G/5G telecom stack developed by C-DOT.
  • Collaboration on space technology communication (TN-NTN) between the UK and India’s Bharat 6G Alliance.

This visit underscored the shared commitment of India and the UK to drive innovation in telecom and digital infrastructure, paving the way for enhanced collaboration in next-generation connectivity solutions. It also reflects India’s proactive approach to shaping global telecom policies, fostering AI-driven innovations, and strengthening international partnerships for a digitally inclusive future.