TCS to tap global markets for promoting made in India 5G gear: COO
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is looking to tap overseas markets, particularly the US, to promote locally developed and manufactured fifth generation, or 5G, radio network gear on the backdrop of Centre’s ambition to 'make in India for the world' to overcome supply chain disruptions.
“The N78 5G radios designed by Tejas Networks may be qualified for all greenfield and brownfield 5G opportunities that present themselves to the company globally including that in the US,” TCS chief operating officer NG Subramaniam told ETTelecom.
Developed by Saankhya Labs, the N78 radio, compatible with 3300 MHz spectrum band, is being currently manufactured by Bengaluru-based Tejas Networks, which acquired the telecom startup early last year.
In 2021, Tata Sons acquired homegrown telecom gear maker Tejas Networks.
On the backdrop of recently-concluded G20 summit, New Delhi and Washington strengthened their commitment to 5G and 6G technologies with the US President Joe Biden inviting Indian companies to support the Rip and Replace program, launched in 2020.
The initiative allows the US companies to tear out telecom gear deployed by Chinese Huawei and ZTE following fears of backdoors used by Beijing to allegedly steal commercial secrets and espionage.
Lately, India has taken aggressive steps to up its play in domestic manufacturing of telecom equipment, and in 2022, unveiled the telecom technology development fund (TTDF) to complement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative, aimed to address supply chain disruptions amid Covid-induced shutdowns.
Subramaniam further said that TCS, a Mumbai-based systems integrator (SI), contributes to study groups, specifications for 5G Advanced and 6G
