India is critical for Nokia’s expansion into 6G technology and services, government official says

India is critical for Nokia’s expansion into 6G or 6th generation wireless, both in terms of technology development and service delivery, the company executive said. money control In an interview.

Nishant Batra, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer, Nokia, expressed optimism about India’s contribution in the 6G space and India’s aggressiveness and intentions in the 6G space. Batra highlighted Nokia’s efforts to undertake research and development (R&D) activities related to 6G in the country. He stressed that India’s proactive stance requires the active participation of industry players such as Nokia. In line with this, the company has established a dedicated 6G Lab at its Global Research and Development Center in Bangalore and initiated partnerships to further enhance this futuristic technology.

He cited Nokia’s work with institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on joint research on 6G technology and use cases as evidence of Nokia’s commitment to expanding partnerships in India.

Although not part of the Bharat 6G Alliance, which aims to foster innovation and collaboration in the 6G space, Nokia is open to engaging with all relevant stakeholders in India. Mr. Batra expressed a desire to engage more deeply in such efforts, while he affirmed Nokia’s commitment to bilateral discussions with major companies.

Apart from its focus on 6G, Nokia is also exploring investment opportunities in Indian startups, especially those operating in the digital industry, cybersecurity and network decentralization. Notable investments include Shadowfax, India’s leading logistics service provider, which recently secured significant funding.

Batra highlighted that India has the potential to play a more prominent role in the global startup ecosystem, especially leveraging digital infrastructure enabled by technologies such as 5G.

Batra said Nokia’s strategic interests in India go beyond 6G development and also include investing in and collaborating with startups aimed at accelerating innovation and digital transformation in the country.

(Note: The reporter is covering the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona at the invitation of Xiaomi.)