The Centre Aims to Unite Innovation and Drive Commercial Opportunities in Advanced Telecommunications

India and UK Commit £24 Million to Drive Research, Innovation, and Global Standards in Telecommunications

UK-India Technology Security Initiative Powers New Connectivity Centre in Partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Department of Telecommunications (DoT)

OCT 10, 2025

Today, India and the UK announce a landmark strategic partnership to advance digital inclusion and shape the future of secure and innovative communications. The India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre will bring together complementary strengths in UK and Indian innovation in advanced connectivity – linking cutting-edge research at universities, with lab testing and field trials, through to market deployment. The initiative will create new commercial opportunities by enabling industry partners to innovate, test and scale products with a pathway to market adoption.

            Over the next four years, a critical period when the technological and commercial parameters for 6G will take shape, the Centre will drive advancements in three key areas:

• Transforming telecom with AI – using advanced AI tools to optimise networks, improve efficiency, and unlock new services.
• Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) – developing satellite and airborne systems to deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity to rural and remote areas.
• Telecoms Cybersecurity – strengthening network security and developing open and interoperable solutions, to make communication systems more resilient and more reliable for businesses and consumers.

            Connectivity and telecommunication technologies critically underpin our economies and societies. Developing them together on a single platform is expected to bring economic and security benefits to both countries.

            India and the UK have committed a combined initial £24 million over four years to advance this initiative. This funding will support applied research among established UK and Indian research centres, industry-academic partnerships, joint testbeds, and targeted collaboration in global technical standards development.

            This initiative, delivered as part of the UK-India Technology Security Initiative jointly by UKRI and DoT, stands as a flagship example of the UK-India Research and Innovation Corridor in action, and reflects the shared ambition set out in the Prime Minister–Prime Minister 2035 Vision.

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