In line with the Indian Government’s digitalization agenda, Ericsson and Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) announced the launch of the Ericsson ITI Labs Project to equip 10,000 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) students with industry-relevant skills on 5G infrastructure deployment and emerging telecom technologies.
The initiative aims to enhance employability and foster entrepreneurship among ITI students by providing hands-on training on the deployment and maintenance of 5G networks and allied infrastructure. As India accelerates its transition towards a 5G-enabled digital economy, there is a growing demand for a skilled telecom workforce. This collaboration between Ericsson and TSSC seeks to bridge the existing skill gap by aligning training programs with evolving industry requirements and equipping students with practical, job-ready competencies.
As part of the initiative, 10 state-of-the-art Ericsson ITI Labs will be established across India, with each lab serving a cluster of ITIs as a hub and spoke model. The project will cover approximately 100 ITIs and benefit around 100 students per institute. Students will undergo a 60-hour specialized training program focused on key telecom job roles including Telecom Rigger for 5G and legacy networks, 5G Active Network Installation Technician, Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH/X) Installer, Wireless Technician, and 5G Infrastructure Technician.
To encourage greater participation of women in telecom and technology roles, at least 20 percent of the participating students enrolled will be women.
Lt Gen K H Gawas, CEO, Telecom Sector Skill Council marked the occasion stating “ As India advances towards a 5G-enabled digital future, the demand for skilled telecom professionals continues to grow. The Ericsson ITI Labs Project is a transformative initiative that aligns strongly with the vision of Skill India and India’s focus on building a digitally skilled and future-ready workforce. At TSSC, our focus is on empowering youth with industry-aligned skills that enhance employability and prepare them for emerging technology careers. The project will provide students with valuable hands-on exposure to next-generation telecom technologies, while also encouraging greater participation of women in telecom and technology roles.”
Nitin Bansal, Managing Director, Ericsson India, says “A highly skilled and future-ready workforce is required to support the strong digital infrastructure across the country. The Ericsson ITI Labs Project aims to equip young people with industry-relevant skills and practical exposure on next-generation telecom technologies, in order to create stronger employment opportunities and a sustainable talent pipeline for the sector. This initiative reflects Ericsson’s continued commitment to strengthening India’s digital ecosystem and supporting the country’s broader digital ambitions.”
Designed to go beyond conventional skilling, the Ericsson ITI Labs Project aims to create pathways for sustainable livelihoods by offering students real-world exposure to telecom infrastructure and emerging technologies.
Ericsson’s educational initiatives in India include 40 centers to provide ICT and soft skills training to underprivileged youth across the country. Furthermore, to stimulate student’s interest in technology and provide digital skills including coding, programming and robotics at an early age, Ericsson has set up 15 Robotic Labs in the country. Ericsson has also partnered with DoT on the one hundred 5G Use case labs within 100 institutes across India. Ericsson has opened its Ericsson Educate platform to 10,000 students from these institutes and is providing access to learning material on key technologies. The subjects covered as part of the Program at an introductory level include Automation, Telecommunications, AI, IoT, 5G and Machine Learning.
Ericsson has been in India for over 120 years and the Company is providing secure digital infrastructure that is accelerating the country’s digitalization initiatives and driving economic growth. The Company will continue to strengthen its manufacturing and R&D presence in the country while building the talent and innovation eco system in the country.
