Ericsson is strengthening its commitment to India’s growing telecom ecosystem with the establishment of a new Radio Access Network (RAN) Software Research and Development (R&D) unit in Bengaluru. The new facility will focus on developing advanced 5G and 5G Advanced software features for Ericsson’s 5G baseband, further cementing India’s position as a global technology innovation hub.
Ericsson did not reveal the number of employees in its R&D units in India. Ericsson had 25,358 employees in the South East Asia, Oceania and India region on September 30, 2025 against 26,327 September 30, 2024.
Globally, Ericsson had 89,898 employees on September 30, 2025 compared with 95,984 on September 30, 2024 and 91,937 on June 30, 2025.
The Bengaluru R&D center will collaborate closely with Ericsson’s global RAN software teams to enhance the company’s 5G technology capabilities. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing tech cities, Bengaluru offers a deep pool of skilled software engineers and a thriving telecom ecosystem, making it an ideal location for Ericsson’s latest R&D investment.
Nitin Bansal, Managing Director of Ericsson India and Head of Network Solutions for Market Area South East Asia, Oceania, and India, said, “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 telecom ecosystem in the country.”
David Bjore, Head of RAN Software & Compute Platforms at Ericsson, added, “This latest Ericsson R&D investment and commitment shows how important India is to our work on next-generation technology. We’re building on strong partnerships in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Gurugram, and for the first time, we’re developing RAN software ourselves in India. This step not only supports India’s tech scene but also enables us to create solutions in the country that can have a global impact.”
The new R&D initiative builds on Ericsson’s growing R&D footprint across India. Earlier in 2025, the company expanded its ASIC development program to support the country’s semiconductor ecosystem. Ericsson has also been advancing collaborations with academic and industry partners, including IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, and the Indian Statistical Institute, focusing on AI-driven networks, edge computing, and cyber-physical systems.
In addition, Ericsson’s partnership with Volvo and Airtel integrates XR and Digital Twin technologies at Volvo’s Bengaluru R&D Center. The company also launched the India 6G program in 2024 with a dedicated research team at its Chennai R&D Center, aimed at advancing next-generation wireless technologies.
Globally, Ericsson invests around USD 5 billion annually in R&D, reinforcing its leadership in 5G and future communication technologies. Its Indian R&D hubs in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Gurugram continue to play a key role in driving innovation across telecom domains, including Transport, Packet Core, OSS, BSS, Cloud, and AI-based network intelligence.
Baburajan Kizhakedath