ITI to develop electronics ecosystem, 5G tech manufacturing hub in India

Public sector electronics and telecom gear manufacturer Indian Telephone Industries Limited (ITI) has shifted its focus to emerging technologies. 

The company has partnered with India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA) to set up an electronics system design manufacturing (ESDM) ecosystem for electronics and telecom products.  

Bengaluru-based ITI says it will be working on smart electronics domains at the planned manufacturing hub, according to a statement. 

NSE-listed ITI, which was established in 1948,  will also facilitate the setting up of infrastructure including a 5G village in Bengaluru, assembly, testing, marking and packaging (ATMP) Line and a deeptech and intelligent electronics park.

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding with the industry body, ITI will enable the development of an intelligent electronics ecosystem. Its focus will be on product design, development and manufacturing in areas like telecom, internet of things (IoT), smart cities, smart manufacturing, smart agriculture among others.

Meanwhile, the industry body IESA will work as the knowledge and transformation partner. The initiative will help small and medium enterprises and start-ups to utilise ITI’s existing infrastructure for prototyping, testing and certification purposes.

“ITI has a long legacy for telecom equipment manufacturing in India. This initiative not only opens the door for small and medium enterprises but also enables them to reach out to the global market for their indigenous electronic products. The initiative shows ITI’s commitment to the government's flagship programmes like the Make in India and Smart City programmes,” said RM Agarwal, chairman and managing director, ITI Limited. 

5G Village

The proposed 5G Village at ITI premise will focus on design, development, prototyping, testing and manufacturing of 5G related and enabled equipment, devices, solutions for needs of the country, the PSU said. Among the facilities at the 5G village include telepreneur hub, systems innovation lab, systems certification lab, radiated application test beds and a regulatory sandbox.

“ITI with its expertise and competencies of running a world-class electronics manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, will suitably complement our initiative for enabling investors and companies to set up their operations in the country,” said Jitendra Chaddah, chairman, IESA and senior director, strategy and operations at Intel India. 

The partnership also aims to set up a demo assembly, testing, marking and packaging (ATMP) line, as a first-of-its-kind facility in the country. 

The electronic park will also have an experience zone for emerging solutions in areas such as smart cities, smart agriculture, smart healthcare among others for startups, companies in these domains to showcase their latest offerings, the statement noted.