Ericsson, a global leader in telecom equipment and services, is eyeing expansion in India as the country’s demand for advanced technology outpaces other markets. The company’s CEO, Börje Ekholm, said that India is ahead of the world in 5G rollout and has a huge potential for digitalization and innovation. He also hinted that Ericsson may create more job opportunities in India as it invests in AI solutions and network optimization.

Ericsson faces revenue dip in India but remains optimistic

Ericsson reported a 40% decline in its revenues in India in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. The company attributed this to the volatility in the sales of telecom equipment as two of its major customers, Airtel and Jio, deployed 5G technology in the country. Ericsson had installed 100,000 Massive MIMO 5G radios for Airtel, covering 65 million users in 12 circles.

However, Ericsson’s CEO, Börje Ekholm, said that he is not worried about the revenue dip, as he expects the demand for telecom equipment to bounce back in 2024. He said that India is a key market for Ericsson, as it has a high demand for advanced technology compared to other countries. He said that India is a technology-driven economy, which requires cutting-edge solutions to handle the increasing data traffic and ensure energy efficiency.

Ericsson bets on AI and network optimization for India

Ekholm said that Ericsson is focused on delivering AI solutions that are embedded in its products, as well as using GenAI for its internal operations and product improvement. He said that Ericsson has developed Explainable AI, a unique solution for telecom operators, to enhance their network architecture and performance. He said that Explainable AI provides transparency and accountability for the AI decisions, which is crucial for the telecom industry.

Ericsson also launched several solutions for improving the efficiency and quality of its network services in India. These include:

Ericsson Network Services Platform, which enables operators to automate and optimize their network operations and service delivery.
Ericsson Cloud RAN, which allows operators to deploy cloud-based and programmable networks, with lower latency and higher capacity.
Ericsson Spectrum Sharing, which enables operators to dynamically share spectrum between 4G and 5G, without requiring hardware changes.

Ericsson expects to grow and create jobs in India

Ekholm said that Ericsson is confident that it can grow and create value in India, as it leverages its first-mover advantage and scale in the market. He said that Ericsson has a long-term vision of feeding 8 million pets by 2027 and generating $1.25 billion in net sales along the way.

He also said that Ericsson’s expansion in India will create more job opportunities for skilled professionals in the fields of artificial intelligence, network optimization, and telecommunications. He said that Ericsson will contribute to India’s AI ecosystem by providing AI solutions and Explainable AI for telecom operators. He said that Ericsson will need talented individuals to design, implement, maintain, and improve these solutions, as well as to support its customers and partners.