In a collaboration aimed at advancing the future of telecommunications, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT) and Ericsson have inked significant agreements to jointly explore the realms of artificial intelligence (AI), compute, and radio technologies.

This partnership, announced today, marks a pivotal step towards the development of novel AI-driven solutions and distributed computing technologies, essential for shaping the landscape of 6G networks. At a symposium hosted at the GS Sanyal School of Telecommunications (GSSST), leaders and experts from both institutions congregated to discuss the implications and possibilities inherent in this collaboration. Notable figures including Prof Virendra Kumar Tewari, director of IIT Kharagpur, Prof Rintu Banerjee, dean of Research and Development at IIT Kharagpur, Dr Magnus Frodigh, head of Ericsson Research and Nitin Bansal, managing director of Ericsson India, shared their insights and visions for the future of telecommunications.

Prof Tewari emphasized the commitment towards catapulting India into the forefront of technological innovation, citing the integration of AI into 6G networks as a catalyst for transformative applications. IIT Kharagpur aims to contribute across various domains, including radio access technology, core network development, RF & device technologies, VLSI design, neuromorphic signal processing and more. Moreover, the institute pledges to actively participate in telecommunications standardization processes, develop test beds, prototypes, and foster commercialization efforts, alongside facilitating industry exposure for students.

Dean R&D, Prof Banerjee, shed light on the ongoing research and consultancy activities within the institute, stressing the pivotal role of AI and compute research in Ericsson’s 6G network architecture, particularly in managing compute offload dynamically at the network edge, driven by AI-driven policies. Dr Frodigh, expressing the brand’s enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighted the significance of the partnership in bolstering R&D commitments in India, particularly in the domains of radio, compute, and AI research.

He elucidated Ericsson’s vision for 6G, emphasizing the fusion of physical and digital worlds, enabled by sensor-based communications, and the integration of digital twins. MD Nitin Bansal reiterated dedication to driving 6G innovation, showcasing substantial R&D investments aligned with the nation’s aspirations for ubiquitous connectivity. The symposium witnessed participation from esteemed speakers and panellists including Prof Suvra Sekhar Das, Head of GSSST, Prof Debarati Sen, Prof Saswat Chakrabarti, Prof Soumyajit Dey, alongside other faculty members from IIT Kharagpur and key figures from the Ericsson Research