India and UK bolster tech partnership in AI, 6G and space

The United Kingdom and India have forged deeper technological cooperation through a series of high-level meetings and agreements in February 2025, focusing on next-generation telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and space technology. This collaboration builds upon existing partnerships while expanding into new areas of innovation, including Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) development and 6G research.

Key developments: The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) and London’s Sonic Labs have formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding focused on Open RAN policy and technical development.

• The agreement encompasses 5G Open RAN advancement and AI integration in both 4G and 5G networks
• Joint Centres of Excellence will be established for telecom cybersecurity, AI applications in telecommunications, and digital twin technology
• The partnership includes collaboration on submarine sea cable security and quantum communication solutions

High-level engagement: Indian Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal’s visit to the UK has resulted in substantive discussions with key British technology leaders and institutions.

• Meetings were held with Chris Johnson, National Scientific Adviser, and Dave Smith, National Technology Adviser of the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology
• Discussions with the Scottish Government’s Digital Directorate explored digital transformation and telecom security
• The Alan Turing Institute engagement focused on ethical AI development and fostering AI startup ecosystems

Research and innovation focus: The collaboration extends into advanced research facilities and academic institutions across the UK.

• Secretary Mittal visited the Federated Telecom Hub specializing in Cloud and Distributed Computing (CHEDDAR)
• Tours included Scotland’s 5G Centre at the University of Strathclyde and the 6G Research Centre at the University of Glasgow
• Student exchange programs will foster academic and industrial partnerships between the two countries

Industry participation: A comprehensive roundtable brought together key stakeholders from both nations’ technology sectors.

• Participants included representatives from BT, Ericsson, UK Space Agency, and the European Space Agency
• The UK Technology Innovation Network (UKTIN) and various innovation hubs contributed to discussions
• The meeting built upon the existing UK-India Technology Security Initiative

Future collaborations: The partnership outlines specific areas for joint development and research.

• Both nations will contribute to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standards for IMT 2030 (6G)
• Plans include leveraging mobile phone data for infrastructure planning, based on India’s successful metro planning model
• The agreement encompasses space technology communication and testing facility development

Strategic implications: This bilateral technology partnership positions both countries to compete more effectively in the global race for technological advancement while addressing critical infrastructure and security challenges. The emphasis on indigenous technology development, particularly India’s 4G and 5G stack, suggests a shared commitment to reducing dependence on dominant market players while fostering domestic innovation capabilities.