Ericsson powers India’s 5G push with local antenna manufacturing launch

The expansion of EAS production in India is fully managed by Ericsson teams and supported by a strategic supplier network, ensuring adherence to global quality standards while maintaining the responsiveness needed in today’s fast-moving environment

Ericsson Antenna System (EAS) is expanding its local manufacturing footprint in India, aiming to localize 100% of passive antenna production for the Indian market by June 2025. This move reinforces Ericsson’s commitment to India as a strategic innovation hub and supports the nation’s accelerated 5G rollout.

The investment will enable faster time-to-market, improved collaboration with local partners, and enhanced responsiveness to customer needs. It also aligns with India’s broader digital transformation goals and boosts Ericsson’s global agility.

To facilitate local production, Ericsson is partnering with VVDN Technologies, a trusted Indian technology firm. This collaboration adds India to Ericsson’s global manufacturing network, which includes facilities in Mexico, Romania, and China.

By strengthening its supply chain through Indian operations, Ericsson aims to future-proof its manufacturing capabilities while contributing to the development of high-performing mobile networks both locally and globally.

“At Ericsson, antennas are critical, serving as the entry point to enhanced network performance and innovation,” says Mikael Eriksson, Head of Ericsson Antenna System. “Expanding in India strengthens our ability to deliver cutting-edge technology at speed, closer to where our customers are building next-generation networks.”

India as export powerhouse

Beyond meeting domestic needs, a significant portion of antennas manufactured in India will be exported, establishing the country as a strategic hub within Ericsson’s global supply chain. By bringing product development closer to regional customer realities, Ericsson is accelerating time-to-market and enabling deeper local technology collaboration.

Ericsson has been in India for more than 120 years, starting in 1903 with the delivery of manual switches to the Indian government. In 1994, Ericsson became the first telecom company to manufacture in India, paving the way for the country’s mobile revolution.

As a leader in 5G, Ericsson has been working closely with Indian service providers to deploy high-performing networks. Since 2015, the company has delivered the Ericsson Radio System to prepare networks for 5G and showcased some of India’s first 5G use cases, including a live 5G-enabled music concert.

The expansion of EAS production in India is fully managed by Ericsson teams and supported by a strategic supplier network, ensuring adherence to global quality standards while maintaining the responsiveness needed in today’s fast-moving environment.

“This expansion reflects our commitment and long-term investment in India’s industrial and digital future,” says Nitin Bansal, Managing Director, Ericsson India. “By localizing production and building out a robust ecosystem, Ericsson is ensuring faster deployment, increased responsiveness, and stronger protection for its customers against environmental or external disruptions.”

With antennas now designed and built in India—for India and the world—Ericsson and EAS are working to shape the future of global network infrastructure with a resilient supply chain closer to the customers. EAS advanced antenna solutions help operators deploy high-capacity, reliable infrastructure to meet the growing data demands of 5G and future technologies.