Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Ericsson Says India’s 5G Shift Is Toward Monetisation
Indian telecom companies have already built many 5G networks.
Ericsson says they are now trying to find services that customers will pay extra for.
These services could offer faster responses, better reliability or more predictable connections.
Businesses may use them for special applications.
A technology called network slicing can help create different kinds of connections on the same network.
AI can help telecom companies run their networks more efficiently.
At the same time, AI apps may need networks that can handle more data and respond quickly.
Ericsson calls these two ideas AI for Networks and Networks for AI.
Ericsson is also expanding its technology research work in Bengaluru.
Ericsson says Indian telecom operators are moving from 5G network construction toward revenue-generating services and use cases.
Differentiated connectivity, including 5G standalone and network slicing, is beginning to move beyond experimentation in India.
Potential paid services include more reliable, lower-latency and predictable connectivity for enterprise applications.
AI may help operators optimise networks while creating new demand for higher uplink capacity and lower latency.
Ericsson has expanded its Bengaluru chip-design centre into broader research covering AI, programmable networks and future 6G systems.
- Who
- Ericsson, represented by Ericsson India managing director Nitin Bansal, and Indian telecom operators.
- What
- The Indian 5G market is shifting from network deployment toward monetising differentiated connectivity and developing new use cases.
- When
- The shift is described as happening now; Ericsson cited global data covering the six months to June 2026.
- Where
- India, including Ericsson’s chip-design centre in Bengaluru.
- Why
- Operators are seeking additional revenue from deployed 5G infrastructure, while AI is creating new network-efficiency needs and traffic demands.
- Company
- Ericsson, the Swedish telecom equipment maker
- Market focus
- Indian operators are moving toward monetising existing 5G infrastructure
- Technologies
- 5G standalone, network slicing, differentiated connectivity and fixed wireless access
- Global offerings
- Commercial differentiated-connectivity offerings based on 5G standalone network slicing rose from 65 to 84 in six months to June 2026
- AI strategy
- Ericsson describes the opportunity as AI for Networks and Networks for AI
- Indian workforce
- India is Ericsson’s largest employee base, with more than 20,500 employees
- Research centre
- The Bengaluru ASIC unit now covers ASIC development, telecom-grade AI, programmable networks and future 6G systems