Airtel and partners test AI, digital twins on 5G in India

The convergence of 5G, extended reality, and AI is ushering in a new era for manufacturing in India, with significant implications for industrial operations and workforce development. This strategic partnership between telecommunications, technology, and automobile manufacturing giants represents a notable step in India’s Industry 4.0 evolution, bringing together communications infrastructure, advanced computing, and industrial expertise to create more intelligent and adaptive manufacturing environments.

The big picture: Bharti Airtel, Ericsson, and Volvo Group have formed a research partnership to integrate Extended Reality, Digital Twin technologies, and AI within manufacturing environments using 5G Advanced networks.

• The collaboration will use Volvo’s Bangalore Factory and R&D Centre as a testbed for Industrial Metaverse applications that blend physical and digital environments.
• Airtel’s 5G Advanced network will provide the foundation for real-time simulations, design prototyping, and immersive training experiences.
• The initiative aims to transform industrial operations through enhanced connectivity that supports advanced visualization and real-time decision-making capabilities.

Key research areas: The partnership will explore several transformative applications that could redefine manufacturing processes in connected industrial environments.

• Human-machine interaction and collaboration will be a primary focus, potentially changing how workers interface with complex machinery.
• Immersive training environments using XR could revolutionize how Volvo trains its workforce using 3D visualizations rather than traditional methods.
• Real-time process optimization leveraging AI and digital twin technology will allow for testing “what-if” scenarios without disrupting actual operations.

What they’re saying: Industry leaders emphasize how this collaboration represents a pivotal moment for manufacturing modernization in India.

• “Our industry is undergoing a once in a lifetime transformation… 5G, coupled with Extended Reality applications, will help foster innovation as well as collaboration between our sites and engineers, in real-time,” stated Kamal Bali, President and MD of Volvo Group India.
• Nitin Bansal from Ericsson India described 5G as “a game-changer towards enabling intelligent, connected, and immersive industrial experiences” as India embraces Industry 4.0.

Why this matters: The partnership illustrates how advanced telecommunications infrastructure is becoming essential for the next generation of manufacturing rather than just a consumer-facing technology.

• By creating digital replicas of physical factory environments, manufacturers can identify inefficiencies, test improvements, and implement changes with reduced risk and cost.
• The collaboration positions India as a developing hub for advanced manufacturing technologies that could eventually be exported to other markets.

Implications: This research initiative could accelerate the adoption of 5G-powered industrial applications across India’s manufacturing sector.

• Successful implementation could provide a blueprint for other manufacturers looking to modernize operations with immersive technologies.
• The partnership may help address India’s skills gap by developing new training methodologies that use extended reality to build workforce capabilities more efficiently.