Nokia, the renowned telecom gear manufacturer, has inaugurated a groundbreaking 6G lab at its global Research and Development (R&D) center in Bengaluru. This state-of-the-art facility is the first of its kind, dedicated to advancing fundamental technologies and innovative applications for the future of telecommunications.
In a statement released on Thursday, Nokia emphasized that this lab will serve as a collaborative platform for industry stakeholders, fostering innovative solution testing and exploring their potential for commercialization.
The lab will spearhead research into ‘network as a sensor’ technology, which enables networks to detect objects, people, and movement without requiring onboard sensors. This transformative technology aligns with the vision of bridging the digital and physical worlds.
This integration of sensing capabilities into wireless networks will allow simultaneous operation with communication services. The implications are far-reaching, including the ability for individuals to perceive objects around corners, gather information about their environment, and interact with distant objects.
Additionally, the lab will provide an experimental environment for investigating algorithms, privacy measures, and sustainable system design.
Inaugurating the lab virtually, India’s Telecom Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, commented, “Telecom technology is a crucial part of the Digital India Program. While we are underway with one of the world’s fastest 5G rollouts, PM Shri Narendra Modi has envisioned India taking a lead in 6G technology. During his India visit in March, Mr. Pekka Lundmark (CEO of Nokia) met Honourable PM Modi ji, who shared India’s aspiration to lead in 6G and discussed the possibility of Nokia setting up a 6G research lab in India.”
Mr. Vaishnaw added, “Being the first live 6G lab established in India with the live 6G demo setup on mm-wave spectrum, the Nokia 6G research lab will encourage academia and startups to work on and develop standards and use cases.”
Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia, affirmed, “This has been one of the fastest telecom network roll-outs ever and means India now has the third-largest 5G installed base in the world, with 5G download speeds beating those found in many advanced markets. We are satisfied with the work so far but there is still more to do. We will continue to support India’s digital transformation across industry, society, and public services.”
Nokia has been at the forefront of 6G research and actively participates in various global and regional initiatives, collaborating with industry peers, customers, academia, and research institutions. These efforts aim to establish a common vision and direction for 6G, including initiatives like 6G Hexa-X and Hexa-X-II, which represent the first and second phases of the European 6G Flagship project. Nokia is also a founding member of the Next G Alliance.