Ericsson crosses 15,000 antennas milestone in India, eyes global export hub
Synopsis
Ericsson has quietly built one of telecom's more credible Make in India success stories — over 15,000 antennas and 25 million components produced locally since July 2025, with exports already flowing. As India positions itself as a global telecom supply chain node, this milestone is a concrete proof point, not just a policy aspiration.
Key Takeaways
Ericsson has produced more than 15,000 antennas and 25 million components in India since July 2025 .
Products manufactured locally are now being exported to international markets , establishing India as an export hub.
Mikael Eriksson , Head of Ericsson Antenna System, called the achievement 'a step in a much longer journey' toward an end-to-end antenna ecosystem.
The local ecosystem spans component suppliers, engineering capabilities and manufacturing partners aligned with Make in India goals.
Ericsson's antenna systems are designed to support the shift to 5G Standalone and AI-driven network operations.
Telecom equipment major Ericsson on 7 October 2026 announced it has surpassed a significant manufacturing milestone in India, producing more than 15,000 antennas and 25 million components through its local ecosystem since July 2025. The products are now being exported to international markets, reinforcing India's expanding role in Ericsson's global supply chain.
Scale of the Achievement
The milestone arrives just over a year after Ericsson launched its first export-ready antennas manufactured in India — a move the company described as a pivotal step in establishing the country as a key export hub. The local ecosystem spans component suppliers, engineering capabilities and manufacturing partners, all operating under Ericsson's global engineering framework.
Ericsson said it has produced 25 million components domestically alongside the antennas, underlining the depth of the manufacturing integration rather than just assembly-level operations.
What Ericsson's Leadership Said
Mikael Eriksson, Head of Ericsson Antenna System, said the company is building an end-to-end antenna ecosystem that combines local sourcing and manufacturing with Ericsson's global engineering capabilities. 'Producing more than 15,000 antennas in India is an important milestone and is a step in a much longer journey,' he said, adding that growing demand for intelligent and programmable networks is increasing the importance of advanced antenna technologies in improving network performance and spectrum efficiency.
Technology Focus and Industry Context
Ericsson's antenna systems are designed to help telecom operators enhance network coverage and capacity, improve spectrum utilisation and reduce energy consumption. This comes as the industry transitions toward 5G Standalone, AI-driven operations and next-generation network architectures. The company indicated that it and its partners are developing capabilities to support future high-performance, energy-efficient and AI-ready telecom networks.
Notably, this milestone aligns with India's broader Make in India push in the telecom sector, where the government has been actively incentivising domestic production of telecom gear to reduce import dependence and build export capacity. Ericsson's achievement is one of the more tangible data points in that policy narrative.
What Comes Next
Ericsson said it will continue to strengthen its antenna ecosystem in India by expanding local engineering, manufacturing and export capabilities, while supporting telecom service providers in building next-generation networks. Locally manufactured antennas are already supporting customers both within India and in overseas markets, signalling that the export pipeline is operational, not merely aspirational.
Point of View
However, is whether this ecosystem can scale without continued policy protection, and whether Indian component suppliers are building genuine IP or remaining contract manufacturers in Ericsson's orbit. As 5G rollout accelerates and global telecom supply chains fragment, India's window to entrench itself as a credible export node is real — but it will require more than milestone announcements to sustain.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What manufacturing milestone has Ericsson achieved in India?
Ericsson has produced more than 15,000 antennas and 25 million components through its local ecosystem in India since July 2025. The products are now being exported to international markets, marking a significant step in India's role as a telecom manufacturing hub.
When did Ericsson begin manufacturing export-ready antennas in India?
Ericsson launched its first export-ready antennas manufactured in India approximately a year before this announcement, placing the start around mid-2025. The 15,000-unit milestone comes just over a year into that journey.
What technology are Ericsson's India-made antennas designed for?
Ericsson's locally manufactured antenna systems are designed to support 5G Standalone deployments, AI-driven network operations and next-generation architectures. They aim to help operators improve coverage, spectrum utilisation and energy efficiency.
How does this fit into India's Make in India push in telecom?
The milestone aligns with India's policy push to build domestic telecom manufacturing capacity and reduce import dependence. Ericsson's local ecosystem — spanning sourcing, engineering and production — is one of the more substantive examples of a global OEM integrating into India's supply chain rather than merely assembling imported parts.
What are Ericsson's next steps for its India manufacturing operations?
Ericsson said it plans to expand local engineering, manufacturing and export capabilities while supporting Indian telecom operators in deploying next-generation networks. The company is also developing capabilities for high-performance, energy-efficient and AI-ready network infrastructure.
