New Delhi: India and the United Kingdom have announced a landmark strategic partnership to establish the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre. The initiative aims to strengthen digital inclusion and foster collaborative innovation in next-generation communication technologies.
Backed by a combined initial investment of £24 million over four years, the Centre will serve as a hub linking research institutions, test labs and industry partners from both nations. It will focus on taking innovations from early-stage research through field trials and on to market deployment – creating new opportunities for commercial collaboration and technology transfer.
The partnership comes at a crucial time when the technological and commercial frameworks for 6G are being developed globally. Over the next four years, the Centre will advance work in three critical areas – AI-driven telecom transformation, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) and telecom cybersecurity.
In the AI domain, the initiative will explore the use of advanced artificial intelligence tools to optimise networks, improve operational efficiency, and unlock new digital services. Research on NTNs will focus on developing satellite and airborne systems to expand high-speed, reliable connectivity in rural and remote regions. The cybersecurity component will work toward open, interoperable and resilient communication systems, reinforcing trust and reliability in telecom networks.
Officials from both countries highlighted that connectivity and telecommunication technologies are foundational to economic growth and social development. By developing them jointly on a single platform, the collaboration is expected to deliver significant economic and security benefits to both nations.
The initiative will be implemented under the UK-India Technology Security Initiative, jointly delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
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