Ericsson Antenna System Powers India's 5G Future with Localized Innovation
Ericsson Antenna System (EAS) is growing its local manufacturing presence in India to make the nation a strategic innovation center in Ericsson's global portfolio. This action further underpins EAS's mission to develop high-performance mobile networks.
Ericsson will localize 100 percent of EAS passive antenna production for the Indian market by June 2025. This strategic investment facilitates quicker time-to-market, more intense collaboration with local partners, and more flexibility to respond to customer needs while supporting the larger vision of India's digital transformation. This effort supports India's accelerated 5G rollout and enhances Ericsson's capacity to respond with more agility to changing market needs both regionally and globally.
In India, EAS is inaugurating local production of passive antennas with VVDN Technologies, a long-time technology partner. The move includes India in Ericsson's manufacturing footprint around the world which also encompasses facilities in Mexico, Romania, and China further diversifying and future-proofing the supply network of the company.
"At Ericsson, antennas are key, the gate to better network performance and innovation", states Mikael Eriksson, Head of Ericsson Antenna System. "Growth in India supports our capability to provide leading-edge technology at speed, nearer to where our customers are deploying next-generation networks".
Apart from satisfying local requirements, a considerable percentage of antennas produced in India will be exported, making India a strategic location in Ericsson's global supply chain. Through the localization of product development closer to regional customer realities, Ericsson is improving time-to-market and facilitating greater local technology collaboration.
Ericsson has been in India for over 120 years, beginning in 1903 with the supply of manual switches to the Indian government. Ericsson was the first telecom player to produce in India in 1994, setting the stage for India's mobile revolution.
With its position as the 5G leader, Ericsson has been collaborating intensively with Indian service providers to roll out high-performing networks. Since 2015, the company has implemented the Ericsson Radio System to future-proof networks for 5G and demonstrated some of India's first 5G use cases, such as a live 5G-enabled music concert.
The growth of EAS manufacturing in India is entirely controlled by Ericsson organizations and backed by a strategic network of suppliers, thereby maintaining global quality standards while retaining the agility required in today's fast-paced world.
"This growth is an expression of our long-term investment and commitment in India's industrial and digital future", states Nitin Bansal, Managing Director, Ericsson India. "Through local manufacturing and developing a strong ecosystem, Ericsson is facilitating quicker deployment, greater responsiveness, and greater security for its customers against environmental or external disturbances".
With antennas designed and manufactured in India for India and the world Ericsson and EAS are building the future of the world's network infrastructure with a more secure supply chain near customers. EAS leading-edge antenna solutions enable operators to deliver high-capacity, dependable infrastructure that satisfies the increasing data requirements of 5G and beyond.
