Synopsis
India and the UK have strengthened their partnership in telecom, AI, and emerging technologies, focusing on collaboration in next-gen telecommunications, digital infrastructure, and innovative research. Key meetings and agreements highlight the commitment to mutual growth in these sectors.Key Takeaways
- Enhanced Indo-UK collaboration in telecom and AI.
- Focus on next-generation telecommunications and space technology.
- MoU signed on Open RAN policies.
- Meetings with key UK stakeholders and innovation hubs.
- Research initiatives in 6G and AI technologies.
New Delhi, Feb 21 (NationPress) India and the UK have enhanced their collaboration in crucial sectors such as telecom, artificial intelligence (AI), and other emerging technologies, as announced by the government on Friday.
Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), traveled to the UK to engage with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), exploring new opportunities for partnerships in next-generation telecommunications, AI, and space technology, thereby fortifying Indo-UK relations in these vital areas.
A roundtable discussion was organized with prominent UK stakeholders from DSIT, major business players like BT and Ericsson, and innovation hubs, including SONIC Labs, UK Telecom Labs, TITAN, and JOINER.
Participants from the UK Space Agency, European Space Agency, Innovate UK, and the UK Technology Innovation Network (UKTIN) also joined in to discuss potential cooperation.
Dr Mittal emphasized India's prowess in the telecom sector and its swift progress in next-generation network technologies.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was established between SONIC Labs and the Centre for Development of Telematics (CDOT), focusing on Open RAN-related policies and technical issues, particularly concerning 5G Open RAN and AI in 4G/5G.
The Telecom Secretary also met with Chris Johnson, National Scientific Adviser, and Dave Smith, National Technology Adviser of DSIT.
Conversations revolved around emerging technologies and their utilization in 5G, 6G, and digital infrastructure security.
Dr Mittal further held discussions with Geoff Huggins, Director of the Digital Directorate, Government of Scotland, about collaborative initiatives in digital transformation via telecom, telecom security, and emerging telecom technologies.
He visited one of the six Federated Telecom Hubs (FTH) in the UK, which is focused on Cloud and Distributed Computing (CHEDDAR). This hub is at the forefront of research in 6G distributed cloud, AI for 6G, green 6G, and advanced sensing technologies.
Moreover, the Secretary met with Jean Innes, CEO of the Alan Turing Institute, to discuss potential collaborations in digital twins, AI for telecom security, ethical AI, and cultivating an AI innovation and startup ecosystem, as per the Ministry of Communications.
Additionally, the Telecom 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.
