Nokia partners with IISc to jointly research on 6G technology, use cases

Nokia and IISc will place special focus on 6G use cases.

Handset major Nokia said that it is partnering with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to jointly research on 6G technologies and 6G use cases that will have a direct societal impact in India.

This follows the setting up of Nokia’s 6G Lab at its Global R&D centre in Bengaluru in 2023 to accelerate the development of fundamental technologies and foster collaboration between Nokia and India’s academic community.

“The importance of India on the global telecommunications stage cannot be overemphasised. We’re proud to work with the brightest minds in Indian science and academia to ensure 6G is a force multiplier for the Indian economy. By exploring 6G use cases specific to India, we will ensure that 6G addresses the unique needs of the subcontinent,” Nishant Batra, chief strategy and technology officer at Nokia, said in a statement.

Nokia and IISc will work together in the 6G Lab in Bengaluru, where they will pursue three core areas of research: 6G radio technologies, 6G architecture and the application of machine learning into 6G air interface.

The collaboration will develop reference architectures, software frameworks and algorithms, with the aim of contributing their joint research to the 6G technology and standards ecosystem.

While the nature of their research is global, Nokia and IISc will place special focus on 6G use cases that address areas of particular importance to India, as per an official release.

Nokia and IISc will work on creating more sustainable and energy-efficient communication systems. They will also work on improving resilience and reliability of networks for critical communications.

Additionally, they will use AI and developing 'Network as Sensor' technologies to improve transportation safety, augment healthcare and increase access to education.

The partnership will also contribute to the global 6G ecosystem as a whole.
India has become a global powerhouse in communications innovation and is playing a key role in the development of 6G. By partnering, Nokia and IISc plan to further India’s ‘Bharat 6G Vision’, which aims to position India as a key global contributor to the design, development and implementation of 6G technology.

“IISc is very privileged to contribute to India's mission to be a frontline contributor in design, development and deployment of 6G technology by 2030, as envisioned in the Bharat 6G Vision document released by the Prime Minister of India,” Professor Govindan Rangarajan, director of IISc, said.