India’s 5G to Drive Manufacturing and AI, Pave Way for 6G
Ericsson CEO Andres Vicente highlights how India's 95% 5G coverage will drive manufacturing, AI adoption, and pave the way for 6G technology.
India is standing on the brink of a massive industrial and technological transformation, powered by its rapidly expanding connectivity. Speaking at the India Mobile Congress 2026, Ericsson Global CEO Andres Vicente emphasized that the nation's advanced 5G network will be the primary engine driving manufacturing productivity, accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), and setting the stage for the eventual transition to 6G.
A Catalyst for 'Make in India"
As manufacturing becomes a central pillar of the Indian economy, the role of high-speed connectivity cannot be overstated. Vicente noted that the ongoing "Make in India" initiative across various sectors stands to benefit immensely from the flexibility that 5G provides. By enabling more agile and adaptable production processes, 5G is expected to significantly enhance manufacturing capacity and efficiency across the country.
"All the Make in India effort across the different industries can improve productivity by having more flexibility in the way we manufacture," Vicente stated, highlighting how 5G acts as a critical technological backbone for industrial growth.
Bridging the Gap Between AI and the End User
While much of the global conversation around artificial intelligence focuses on massive investments in data centers and computing power, Vicente pointed out a crucial missing link: the network. He argued that even the most sophisticated AI models will fail to reach the end customer effectively without high-performance networks to carry them.
The integration of AI into telecom networks is becoming a vital focus area. According to the Ericsson CEO, the demands of AI will require a fundamental shift in how networks operate, specifically regarding performance requirements. He noted that uplink capabilities will become increasingly important to support the heavy data flows required by AI-driven applications.
India's Massive 5G Footprint
One of the most striking revelations from the event was the scale of India's connectivity deployment. While the global average for 5G population coverage sits at approximately 45%, India has achieved a staggering 95% coverage. This massive investment has positioned the country as a leader in the mobile landscape, ready to embrace the next wave of digital innovation.
This advanced network readiness is expected to unlock a variety of cutting-edge use cases, including:
- Autonomous networks and transportation
- Physical AI and robotics
- Humanoid technology
The Stepping Stone to 6G
The conversation did not stop at 5G. Industry leaders are already looking toward the next frontier. Nitin Bansal, Managing Director of Ericsson India, remarked that the current robust infrastructure—built using 5G Advanced and 5G Standalone technologies—serves as a vital foundation for the future.
Bansal confirmed that the industry is already looking ahead, with Ericsson actively researching the specific spectrum requirements necessary to launch 6G services in the future. For India, the journey from 5G to 6G is not just about speed, but about building a seamless, intelligent digital ecosystem.