Ericsson CTO Lays Out 6G Path for India

- Ericsson's advice aligns with India's "Bharat 6G Vision," a government initiative launched in March 2023 that aims to make India a frontline contributor to the design, development, and deployment of 6G technology by 2030. This vision is built on the principles of affordability, sustainability, and ubiquity. - The proposed transition through 3GPP Release 18 and 19, known as 5G-Advanced, is designed to enhance network performance and support services like XR, indoor positioning, and non-terrestrial networks. Release 19, in particular, will focus on improving performance for commercial 5G deployments and will introduce precursors to what will eventually become a 6G work program. - The RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) is a central component of the O-RAN architecture and is designed to bring multi-vendor interoperability and programmability to the radio access network. It enables the use of third-party applications (xApps and rApps) to automate and optimize RAN operations in near-real-time and non-real-time, facilitating functions like traffic steering and resource allocation. - Ericsson has established a dedicated "India 6G program" with a research team focused on developing solutions contextual to India's needs. The company is also actively partnering with Indian academic institutions, such as IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, and ISI Kolkata, on 6G and AI research. - The emphasis on AI-native networks is crucial as 6G is expected to handle a significant increase in uplink traffic from AI agents and connected devices, a shift from the current downlink-heavy traffic patterns dominated by video streaming. This requires networks to be rebalanced and more programmable. - This strategy supports India's ambition to move from being a consumer of technology to a key producer and exporter, a goal underscored by Ericsson's plan to manufacture all its telecom equipment sold in India, including future 6G gear, within the country. - India has already made significant strides in 5G deployment, with over 435,000 5G base stations established by March 2024, creating a strong foundation for the evolution to 6G. The government has also sanctioned 100 5G labs at academic institutions to build a 6G-ready ecosystem. - The "Bharat 6G Vision" is a two-phased mission, with the first phase (2023-2025) focused on explorative ideas and proof-of-concept trials, and the second phase (2025-2030) centered on development and deployment. The government is funding this through initiatives like the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF).