In an attempt to give 5G revolution a boost in the Indian market, Ericsson, a Swedish telecommunications company launched the nation’s first "Center of Excellence (CoE) and Innovation Lab" for 5G at IIT Delhi.
“India cannot afford to miss the 5G bus. It is of strategic importance to us. We need the entire ecosystem to work together to make 5G a reality in India over the next 2-3 years,” said Manoj Sinha, Communications Minister, after inaugurating the center.
The lab is an open interface whose main aim is to help the telecommunication industry and academia to study the 5G technology which can be used to 5G based new apps and business models.
"The 5G 'Center of Excellence' supports the government's plans to foster a robust and vibrant 5G ecosystem in the country. We want India to be an active participant in the design, development and manufacturing of 5G-based technologies, products and apps," Mr. Sinha noted.
The minister further said that government’s main aim is how new 5G technology can be leveraged in the fields of health, education and disaster management.
"I would like to urge the industry, academia, students and start-ups to leverage the Ericsson Innovation Lab to develop new 5G-based apps and business models that could potentially lead to better agricultural yields, better health-care, smarter cities, more efficient manufacturing and enhanced lifestyles," Mr. Sinha emphasized.
Borje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson said that company is leading the 5G standardization globally.
'We would like to unleash the creativity and innovation of the Indian industry, academia and entrepreneurs to fully leverage and make 5G a reality in India," he stressed.
Other prominent personalities such as R.S. Sharma, Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and V. Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi were also present on the occasion.