India and UK unite for 6G, AI, and telecom cybersecurity advancements

The two countries have also agreed to establish joint Centres of Excellence focusing on telecom cybersecurity, AI in telecom, and digital twins.

India and the UK have agreed to explore joint initiatives in telecom, artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging technologies such as the Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN), marking a significant step in deepening bilateral cooperation in next-generation innovations.

India's Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) and UK-based Sonic Labs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on Open RAN-related policy and technical aspects, including 5G Open RAN and AI applications in 4G and 5G networks, according to an official statement from India’s Ministry of Communications.

The announcements come as Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), visits the UK to engage with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and explore collaboration in telecommunications, AI, and space technology.

During his visit, Mittal met with UK officials, including Chris Johnson, National Scientific Adviser, and Dave Smith, National Technology Adviser at DSIT, to discuss emerging technologies and their applications in 5G, 6G, and digital infrastructure security. He also met with Geoff Huggins, Director of Scotland’s Digital Directorate, to explore digital transformation through telecom advancements.

Additionally, discussions with Jean Innes, CEO of the Alan Turing Institute, focused on potential partnerships in AI-driven telecom security, ethical AI, and fostering an AI innovation ecosystem. Mittal also visited Scotland’s 5G Centre at the University of Strathclyde and the 6G Research Centre at the University of Glasgow, discussing 6G innovation, future sensing technologies, and student exchange programs to enhance academic and industrial collaboration.

The two countries have also agreed to establish joint Centres of Excellence focusing on telecom cybersecurity, AI in telecom, and digital twins. Further collaboration includes leveraging mobile data for infrastructure planning, joint contributions to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standards for IMT 2030 (6G), and promoting India’s indigenous 4G and 5G stack developed by C-DoT.

These initiatives signal a growing strategic partnership between India and the UK in critical technology sectors, reinforcing their shared commitment to innovation and digital transformation.