(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Oct 11 (KNN) India and the United Kingdom have announced a strategic partnership aimed at advancing digital inclusion and shaping the future of secure, innovative communications.

The collaboration marks the launch of the India–UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre, a joint initiative designed to harness the complementary strengths of both nations in advanced connectivity technologies.

The Centre will bridge the gap between research and market deployment by linking academic expertise, laboratory testing, field trials, and commercial application.

It will provide a platform for industry partners to innovate, test, and scale emerging products with clear pathways to market adoption, creating new commercial opportunities across both economies.

Over the next four years-a crucial phase as global frameworks for 6G technology take shape-the Centre will prioritise three key areas of development.

The first focuses on transforming telecommunications through artificial intelligence, using AI to optimise networks, enhance operational efficiency, and enable innovative services.

The second area targets the advancement of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), including satellite and airborne systems, to deliver high-speed and reliable connectivity across rural and remote regions.

The third area centres on strengthening telecom cybersecurity by developing open, interoperable, and secure communication systems that bolster network resilience for both businesses and consumers.

India and the UK have jointly committed an initial GBP 24 million over four years to support the initiative. The funding will back applied research projects, strengthen industry–academia partnerships, establish joint testbeds, and promote collaboration in global technical standards development.

Implemented under the UK–India Technology Security Initiative, the partnership will be co-delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

(KNN Bureau)

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