Ericsson is strengthening its presence in India with the establishment of a new Radio Access Network (RAN) Software Research & Development (R&D) unit in Bengaluru. The initiative follows a number of recent Ericsson R&D investments in India, reflecting both the country’s skilled workforce and Ericsson’s commitment to the local and global markets.
The new R&D unit will initially focus on developing 5G and 5G Advanced features for the Ericsson 5G baseband. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with the company’s global RAN software teams.
Recognized as one of the country’s fastest-growing technology hubs, Bengaluru is well known for its skilled professional talent pool — especially within software engineering — and the presence of major global telecom companies. The dynamic ecosystem positions the city as a prime location for R&D operations in India.
Nitin Bansal, Managing Director, Ericsson India and Head of Network solutions, Market Area South East Asia, Oceania and India, says: “Setting up the R&D Center in India for RAN software development represents a significant step forward towards strengthening our R&D operations in India. Even as we leverage Indian software talent, we are also contributing to building the knowledge base and the telecom eco-system in the country.”
David Bjore, Head of RAN Software & Compute Platforms, Ericsson, says: “This latest Ericsson R&D investment and commitment shows how important India is to our work on next-generation technology. We’re building on the strong partnerships we’ve formed in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Gurugram, and for the first time, we’re developing this RAN software ourselves in India. This is a significant step, as it not only supports India’s rising tech scene but also enables us to create solutions in the country that can have a global impact.”
India R&D momentum
R&D initiatives in the region include the recent expansion of ASIC development unveiled in June 2025, aimed at fostering the semiconductor ecosystem in India. These efforts underscore Ericsson’s commitment to enhancing its portfolio and shaping the future of high-performing programmable networks.
Ericsson is also collaborating with Volvo and Airtel to integrate XR and Digital Twin technologies at Volvo’s Bengaluru R&D Center. The company is also working with IIT Madras to advance AI research for 6G networks, focusing on Responsible AI frameworks. Additional partnerships with the Indian Statistical Institute and IIT Kharagpur target cyber-physical systems, AI-driven networks, secure communications, and edge computing.
For more than 120 years, Ericsson has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s telecom landscape. From pioneering GSM services in 1994 to supporting the evolution to 5G, and most recently, launching the India 6G program with the formation of a dedicated research team at its Chennai R&D Center in 2024, Ericsson continues to drive innovation in the sector.
Globally, Ericsson invests approximately USD 5 billion in R&D each year, reinforcing its leadership in 5G and next-generation technologies. The company’s R&D sites in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Gurugram span critical telecom domains including Transport, Packet Core, OSS, BSS, Cloud, and advanced AI technologies.