Inside the Story
- Ericsson is expanding antenna manufacturing and exports from India.
- More than 15,000 antennas and 25 million components have been produced since July 2025.
- India-made antennas are now being exported to Europe and other global markets.
- The move strengthens India’s position in 5G, AI-ready networks and future 6G technology.
The Story
Introduction
Swedish telecom equipment company Ericsson has announced a major expansion of its manufacturing and export operations in India, with India-made antennas now being exported to Europe and other global markets. The announcement was made on October 7, 2026, during the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 in New Delhi.
According to Ericsson, its Indian manufacturing ecosystem has produced more than 15,000 antennas and 25 million components since July 2025. The company says the development will strengthen India’s role in its global engineering, manufacturing and supply network.
The announcement is particularly significant as telecom networks worldwide move toward 5G Standalone, AI-powered network operations and eventually 6G.
Background: Ericsson and India
Ericsson has been associated with India’s telecommunications sector for more than a century. The company says it has been part of India’s telecom journey for 123 years, contributing to network development, engineering and technology infrastructure.
In recent years, India has increasingly become an important manufacturing and engineering base for global technology companies. Ericsson has expanded its local capabilities across component sourcing, engineering, production and exports, supporting the broader “Make in India” manufacturing ecosystem.
The company’s India operations also include research and development capabilities, including work related to semiconductor and ASIC technologies for future telecom equipment.
Main Development: India-Made Antennas Enter Global Markets
The latest announcement marks an important step in Ericsson’s India manufacturing strategy. The company confirmed that antennas manufactured in India are being exported to Europe and other international markets.
Ericsson says it has produced more than 15,000 antennas and 25 million components in India since July 2025. The company had previously launched its first export-ready antennas manufactured in India in 2025 and has since expanded its local capabilities.
The antennas are designed to support modern telecommunications networks, including 5G Standalone and AI-ready networks, while also preparing for future network technologies.
Ericsson executives have also highlighted India’s rapid 5G deployment as a potential advantage as the industry prepares for 6G. At IMC 2026, Ericsson’s Andres Vicente pointed to India’s strong mid-band 5G coverage as evidence of the country’s growing telecom capabilities.
Industry Impact
The expansion could have a wider impact on India’s telecom manufacturing ecosystem. Exporting advanced telecom equipment from India demonstrates that the country is becoming more important not only as a large telecom market but also as a global production and engineering hub.
For Indian manufacturers and technology suppliers, Ericsson’s expansion could create opportunities across component sourcing, manufacturing, engineering, logistics and technology partnerships.
The development is also relevant to India’s ambitions around domestic manufacturing and technology exports. As global demand for 5G equipment continues to evolve toward AI-enabled and energy-efficient networks, Indian production capabilities could become increasingly important.
For telecom operators, advanced antenna technology can help improve network coverage, capacity and spectrum efficiency. Ericsson says its antenna systems are designed to improve network and site performance while supporting energy-efficient network operations.
The development also connects with the broader focus of India Mobile Congress 2026, which is highlighting 5G, 6G, AI-driven networks, semiconductors, cybersecurity and other emerging technologies.
What This Means for Indian Businesses
For Indian businesses, the announcement highlights the growing opportunity in India’s telecom and advanced-manufacturing ecosystem. Companies involved in electronics, components, engineering, logistics and technology services could benefit as large global companies expand their Indian supply chains.
It also strengthens India’s position as a potential export base for sophisticated technology products rather than simply a destination for telecom deployment.
Conclusion
Ericsson’s decision to export India-made antennas to Europe and other global markets represents an important milestone for India’s technology manufacturing sector. With more than 15,000 antennas and 25 million components already produced since July 2025, Ericsson is expanding India’s role within its global supply and engineering ecosystem.
As the telecom industry moves from 5G toward AI-driven networks and eventually 6G, India’s combination of a large domestic market, engineering talent and expanding manufacturing capabilities could make it an increasingly important part of the global telecommunications value chain.
Technical Terms Explained
5G Standalone (5G SA) – A 5G network architecture that operates using a dedicated 5G core instead of relying on an existing 4G core.
Mid-Band 5G – A 5G frequency range that offers a balance between network coverage and high data speeds.
AI-Ready Network – A network designed to use artificial intelligence for automation, optimisation, monitoring and improved performance.
6G – The next generation of mobile communication technology being developed beyond today’s 5G networks.
Antenna – A telecom component that transmits and receives radio signals between mobile devices and network infrastructure.Spectrum Efficiency – The ability to transmit more data using a limited amount of wireless frequency spectrum.
ASIC – Application-Specific Integrated Circuit, a chip designed for a particular function or specialised technology application.Network Capacity – The amount of data or number of connections a telecommunications network can handle effectively at a given time.