Ericsson plans to export antennas manufactured in India to European markets, marking a significant step in the Swedish vendor's use of its Indian production base as an export hub, a company executive told The Economic Times.

The move signals that Ericsson's Indian factories now meet the quality and cost thresholds required to supply one of the world's most mature telecom equipment markets. It also aligns with India's broader policy push — through production-linked incentive schemes — to turn the country into a global electronics and network equipment manufacturing center rather than solely a domestic market.

The same executive said India holds a competitive edge for 6G development, a claim that positions the country as a serious participant in the next generation of mobile technology rather than a follower that adopted 5G late.

Why does exporting antennas from India matter?

Antennas are among the most logistics-sensitive components in radio access networks. Shipping them from India to Europe implies confidence in scale, consistency and cost competitiveness of local production.

For Ericsson, the decision fits a wider pattern of multinational vendors localizing manufacturing close to growing demand while consolidating export supply chains. India's large 5G rollout, one of the fastest deployments globally, has given suppliers the volume base that makes such exports commercially viable.

For Indian policymakers, an export commitment from a tier-one vendor like Ericsson is tangible evidence that the country's manufacturing incentives are producing results beyond import substitution.

What is the basis of the 6G claim?

The executive's assertion that India has a competitive edge for 6G rests on the country's recent track record: rapid nationwide 5G deployment, a large base of engineers and telecom software talent, and an active domestic standards community.

The claim should be read against the commercial calendar. 6G standardization work is underway in bodies such as 3GPP, with first commercial networks not expected until around 2030. No vendor has 6G products ready for market, so any competitive-edge discussion today concerns research contributions, patents and manufacturing readiness rather than shippable technology.

India's government has pushed early involvement in 6G research and spectrum policy, aiming to avoid the late start that characterized earlier generations in the Indian market.

How does this fit the vendor's global picture?

Ericsson, like its rivals Nokia, Huawei and Samsung, is navigating a period of mixed operator capex. 5G radio sales remain concentrated in markets where carriers are still densifying networks, while 6G-related research spending is rising ahead of the standards cycle.

Using India as an export base gives Ericsson a cost hedge during that transition. It also deepens the company's commitment to a market where it is a major radio access network supplier to the country's leading operators.

For European operators, the arrival of India-made antennas adds a new sourcing option at a time when equipment costs and supply chain resilience are under close scrutiny.

What comes next?

The executive's comments suggest Ericsson sees India's role in its global operations expanding on two tracks: as a manufacturing and export location for current-generation hardware, and as a potential contributor to 6G development as standardization work advances toward the end of the decade.