Indo-US Tech Pact Paves the Way for Jio to Export its 5G Stack

According to informed sources, following the recent Indo-US tech agreements, Reliance Jio is exploring the possibility of exporting its indigenous 5G stack and radio technology. This step is anticipated to generate an extra source of revenue for the company.

The agreements between India and the US cover various areas, including the establishment of secure and trusted telecommunications, resilient supply chains, global digital inclusion, and open RAN trials. These agreements provide an opportunity for local telecom solution providers like Jio to expand their presence in other countries.

All About the Jio Exporting 5G Stack

Given the global shift towards relying on trusted sources of equipment, Indian companies can also benefit from the global equipment replacement opportunity. Before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to the United States, Jio had provided the government with information about its proprietary 5G solutions and their potential contributions to the India-US partnership.

Jio has developed a comprehensive 5G solution, encompassing the 5G radio, a complete 5G core network, cloud infrastructure setup, and platforms for cloud-based operations. However, for its 5G rollout, Jio is currently relying on partners like Nokia and Ericsson, and has not yet deployed its own solutions on a large scale.

While Jio possesses the necessary resources to supply its own designed solutions to other countries, it must first test and deploy these solutions in India and obtain certification before commencing exports. Rakesh Bhatnagar, Director General of VoICE consortium and head of the government-appointed task force on new telecom equipment opportunities, highlighted the potential for domestic telecom solution firms, including equipment makers, to benefit from the India-US telecom partnership.

Reliance Industries subsidiary, Reliance Strategic Business Ventures, previously formed a joint venture with US-based Sanmina Corporation to manufacture 4G and 5G equipment for both global and domestic markets. The joint venture received an investment of ₹1,670 crore from the Reliance arm.