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BSNL Partners with Ericsson, Qualcomm, Cisco, and Nokia to Boost 5G, AI, and Digital Skills Development in India.

Science and Technology | Dated: 13 Aug 2025

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has announced strategic partnerships with leading global technology companies—Ericsson, Qualcomm, Cisco, and Nokia—to accelerate the rollout of 5G services, enhance Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption, and strengthen India’s digital skills ecosystem. These collaborations aim to align with the Government of India’s Digital India vision and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - BSNL, India’s state-owned telecommunications company under the Ministry of Communications, signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Ericsson (Sweden), Qualcomm (United States), Cisco (United States), and Nokia (Finland). The partnerships will focus on building a robust 5G infrastructure, improving network efficiency, and promoting indigenous manufacturing capabilities in the telecom sector.
  • - Under the partnership with Ericsson, BSNL will leverage Ericsson’s 5G Core and Radio Access Network (RAN) solutions to support India’s 5G deployment roadmap. Ericsson will also provide technical training to BSNL engineers on advanced 5G and AI integration for telecom operations, enhancing service reliability and speed.
  • - In collaboration with Qualcomm, BSNL aims to develop and deploy energy-efficient 5G devices and solutions powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platforms. This will also include joint research initiatives to enable affordable 5G-enabled smartphones and IoT (Internet of Things) solutions tailored to the Indian market.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The partnership with Cisco focuses on creating a secure and scalable network architecture. Cisco will assist BSNL in deploying AI-driven network automation tools and cybersecurity frameworks to protect critical infrastructure and ensure high-quality connectivity across urban and rural regions.
  • (ii) BSNL’s tie-up with Nokia will focus on deploying advanced 5G equipment and solutions while also facilitating the development of digital skills among BSNL employees and students across India. Nokia will work with BSNL to establish 5G training labs in select telecom training centers.
  • (iii) These collaborations are expected to support India’s goal of achieving nationwide 5G coverage by 2026 while also enhancing AI adoption across industries such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and manufacturing. The initiative aligns with the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018, which emphasizes next-generation connectivity and skill development.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which state-owned telecom company has recently partnered with Ericsson, Qualcomm, Cisco, and Nokia to promote 5G, AI, and digital skills in India?

Correct Answer: BSNL

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)

  • Managing Director (MD): A. Robert Jerad Ravi
  • Headquarters: New Delhi