MC EXCLUSIVE India’s early push toward 6G will help shape global standards: Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden

Erik Ekudden

India’s early move toward 6G technology will play a crucial role in shaping global standards and preparing the world for the next phase of digital connectivity, according to Erik Ekudden, Chief Technology Officer at Ericsson.

In an exclusive interaction with Moneycontrol, Ekudden said India’s rapid 5G rollout — among the fastest and most extensive globally — has already positioned the country strongly for the next generation of networks.

He noted that India’s forward-looking policy decisions in recent years have enabled the world’s swiftest 5G deployment, and he expects the same foresight to guide the government’s approach to emerging technologies like 6G. “Ensuring timely availability of licensed spectrum — especially uplink capacity — will be crucial,” Ekudden said.

Ericsson is actively working to integrate satellite connectivity into 5G and 6G networks through Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). Edited excerpts

From 5G to 6G: India’s Next Telecom Revolution Explained by Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden

Q: India has now built one of the strongest 5G networks in the world. What does that mean for the industry?

A: Indeed. India now has one of the strongest 5G networks globally, and that brings the industry to a new point. It’s no longer just about deployment; it’s about what can be done with the technology.
5G enables new opportunities not only for consumers but also for enterprises — and that’s really the key takeaway for the whole industry. In markets where 5G is being leveraged to its full extent, we are already seeing new growth opportunities emerge.

Of course, some network rollouts and upgrades are still ongoing. But we’ve reached a pivotal moment — the beginning of a second wave in the evolution of mobile technology.

Q: During the sessions here, Indian government officials — including Prime Minister Modi — spoke about 6G and India’s aspiration to contribute to global standards. How do you see India’s role?

A: I think it’s the right strategy. Having a strong, long-term vision is essential because telecom is an industry that constantly evolves — and digital infrastructure is critical infrastructure.

It makes complete sense for India to engage early and drive development. What’s interesting now is that we’re moving into a new phase of thinking about mobile systems — starting with 5G and evolving toward 6G.

The big change is that enterprises, SMEs, hospitals, and manufacturers are all adopting 5G and building on resilient cloud infrastructure. As they deploy AI-driven and real-time applications, they need a strong, reliable network.

6G will address many of the new requirements emerging from these use cases — requirements that 5G may not fully satisfy. That’s why work on 6G, looking ahead to the 2030 timeframe, has already begun.

Q: How do you assess India’s telecom policy environment — especially around spectrum, ease of doing business, and technology rollout?

A: India has made several important policy decisions over recent years that enabled the world’s fastest 5G rollout. These measures have also helped ensure broad inclusion — bringing high-speed mobile broadband to nearly everyone.

I see the same foresight in the government’s approach to future technologies like 6G. Ensuring timely availability of licensed spectrum — especially uplink capacity — will be crucial. As services become more interactive and data flows more symmetrically, we’ll need more uplink spectrum to support emerging applications like AI-powered glasses and immersive experiences. The government’s proactive planning is a positive sign.

Q: With growing geopolitical tensions, cybersecurity and digital sovereignty are becoming central concerns. How is Ericsson addressing this?

A: Rightly so — governments and operators are taking cybersecurity very seriously. Ericsson has long driven the concept of security by design and security by default in our products.
We maintain strict internal processes, share best practices with customers, and continuously update software and resilience strategies.

As networks now serve not only consumers but also enterprises, public safety agencies, and even defence users, resilience is critical. That means preparing for all scenarios — from software attacks to natural disasters.

This isn’t just a necessity; it’s also a business opportunity. Operators can now offer differentiated, SLA-based services with varying performance guarantees — from premium, high-reliability offerings to best-effort connectivity. Monetisation will naturally follow.

Q: AI is getting all the attention globally. How is AI transforming telecom?

A: AI is everywhere — in applications and within networks. Think about AI assistants on smartphones or in smart glasses. These new use cases will place greater demands on networks.
Our goal is to ensure operators have the best possible networks for AI workloads. This journey started with 5G — particularly 5G Standalone — which enables network slicing and programmable network APIs to deliver the right performance for AI-driven experiences.

The other side of AI is what happens inside the network. We are embedding AI-based autonomous functions into the radio, the core, and orchestration layers. This improves operational efficiency — something every operator wants — and, more importantly, enables differentiated, tailored services for different customer segments.

With autonomous, AI-driven networks — what we call “level 4” automation — operators can offer customised experiences at scale. That’s a big growth opportunity.

Q: Beyond AI, what are the other futuristic technologies the telecom industry — and Ericsson — is focusing on?

A: Openness remains a key focus for us. Open interfaces and interoperability will continue to evolve as we move toward 5G Advanced and eventually 6G.

We’re also working on next-generation capabilities in collaboration with partners — including IITs here in India — and developing proof-of-concepts in our labs.

One exciting area is integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), which combines connectivity and sensing — something already being discussed in 6G standardisation.

Another major development is network programmability. Through network APIs — supported by our Vonage platform — operators can expose their network capabilities in a standardised way, enabling developers anywhere in the world to build innovative applications. This network API ecosystem is just beginning to take shape and has huge potential.

We’re also seeing innovation at the intersection of telecom and healthcare — for instance, using 5G-powered ECG sensors to make remote healthcare more accessible. That’s the kind of impact we’re excited about.

Q: So, is this API-driven approach how Ericsson plans to help telcos monetise their 5G investments?

A: Yes. Some leading operators are already developing new services on their own, and we support them in that journey.

However, the majority of developers and application providers want solutions that work across multiple countries and multiple operators. That’s why we’ve taken the initiative to build a scalable, global framework for network APIs — in collaboration with operators.
This approach benefits everyone: operators gain from having their network services consumed more widely, and developers get a unified, global platform.

Q: Satcom is attracting a lot of attention, with companies like Starlink and Amazon Kuiper launching large constellations. Do you see satellite and terrestrial networks converging in the next few years?

A: Absolutely — and for several reasons. We’ve been working for years on integrating satellite technology with 5G and 6G through what’s called Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). Satellite connectivity will complement terrestrial networks — not only in remote and maritime areas but also in urban and suburban regions where it can fill coverage gaps.

Most capacity and user experience will still rely on terrestrial networks, but satellite will become an important and powerful complement.

Q: Finally, how important is India for Ericsson’s R&D and technology development?

A: Hugely important. Ericsson has been in India since 1903 — so our engagement here is deep and long-standing.

In recent years, we’ve expanded significantly. Our teams in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Gurgaon are working on cloud-native systems, IP transport, and AI-native telecom solutions. We also have R&D activities in Pune and Noida, with growing capabilities across the board.

The talent here is exceptional, and the collaboration between Indian and global teams is helping accelerate innovation for both India and the world.