Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Union Minister of Communications and Development of Northeastern Region has inaugurated Cisco India’s manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The manufacturing facility launch was in collaboration with M/s Flex India.
The Cisco facility will be instrumental in producing advanced telecom and networking equipment, which is essential for 5G and future technologies and in reducing import dependence. Flex India collaborated for building this state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for Cisco, as it is one of the beneficiaries under product-linked incentive (PLI) scheme of Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
During the occasion, Scindia called Cisco’s project ‘as a union between Bharat’s prowess in engineering capabilities and USA’s tremendous innovative capabilities.’ He further said that the manufacturing facility represents India’s cultural, spiritual and economic awakening on the world stage and exhorted CISCO to be a partner in India’s telecom manufacturing zone.
Furthermore, this facility will help in reducing dependence on imports and enhance India’s capability to produce world-class products and export them to different countries.
Scindia also visited the campus of Nokia Solutions and Networks in Chennai, where he witnessed innovative applications of advanced Industry 4.0 technologies that are driving innovation in telecom manufacturing. During the visit, the minister was given a comprehensive tour showcasing advanced technologies such as private wireless, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Scindia highlighted the importance of Industry 4.0 for high-tech telecom manufacturing and lauded Nokia’s commitment to fostering world-class manufacturing in India.
Scindia then visited IIT Madras, witnessing the indigenous first-of-its-kind 5G Testbed Project. The researchers from 5G Testbed Project at IIT Madras demonstrated very high-speed communications (1 Gbps) using base stations and technology developed indigenously.
Addressing the faculty and students, Scindia said, “My students, the youth of our country are at the forefront of India’s technological and economic transformation. Initiatives like indigenous 5G Testbed Project here at IIT Madras are not only a testament to India’s growing innovation capabilities but is also a vital step towards becoming third-largest economy in the world. By harnessing potential of our young talent, we are driving towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, self-reliant and globally competitive.”
In addition, V Kamakoti, director, IIT Madras, highlighted the commitment of higher educational institutions to Viksit Bharat at 2047 by exploring and developing new age technologies. He pointed out the 5G project as a significant effort in this direction.
