The Finnish company’s center will boost the development of next-generation networks and create around 100 specialized jobs. (Photo: Bloomberg)
Soon, the global vision of ultra-fast bandwidth and ultra-high-speed internet access — which could revolutionize virtual reality, augmented reality and the technology landscape — will have a Chennai twist.
On Friday morning, multinational telecom giant Nokia will sign an agreement to establish the world’s largest fixed network testbed in Chennai. This testbed will spearhead Nokia’s technological innovations in 10 gigabit (Gb), 25 Gb, 50 Gb and 100 Gb passive optical networks.
The centre, which will involve an investment of around Rs 450 crore, will be one of Nokia’s largest research and development (R&D) labs. It will also focus on fixed wireless access and multi-family solutions, as well as access networks and home controllers.
The agreement will be signed in San Francisco on Friday morning in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who is on a 17-day trip to the US to attract fresh investments. This is his fifth overseas trip since the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam came to power in 2021, following visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Japan and Spain to attract investment proposals for Tamil Nadu. The Nokia centre will be set up at the Tamil Nadu State Industries Promotion Corporation in Siruseri.
“Today, Tamil Nadu has emerged as a global destination of choice for technology services and R&D. Nokia has been a long-standing partner in Tamil Nadu’s growth story and we are proud that the new facility, Nokia’s and possibly the world’s largest fixed network lab, is in Chennai,” said TRB Rajaa, Minister for Industry, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu.
“This is a result of the CM’s pioneering initiatives such as Naan Mudhalvan and the Tamil Nadu R&D Policy 2022, which have also led to unprecedented investments. We aim to sustain this momentum and generate high-value employment opportunities for our youth,” Rajaa added.
The Finnish company’s centre will boost the development of next-generation networks and create around 100 specialised jobs.
The Tamil Nadu government will provide Nokia with essential infrastructure, policy and regulatory support in line with current policies. This collaboration reinforces the strategic importance of Chennai in Nokia’s global operations and underlines the growing importance of the region as a hub for technological innovation, a government source said.
Stalin will also visit Chicago, where he will interact with several multinational companies. Stalin’s previous visits to the UAE, Singapore, Japan and Spain attracted investment proposals totalling Rs 10,882 crore through 17 MoUs, which are expected to create over 18,500 jobs. Of those 17 projects, five worth Rs 990 crore have already started production.
Before leaving for the US, Stalin said that since he assumed power, the state has registered around 872 investment deals with a cumulative investment of Rs 9.99 trillion, creating around 1.89 million jobs. Of those 872 projects, 234 have already started production.
At a global investors meet held in January this year, the state saw investment commitments totalling around Rs 6.6 trillion, of which projects worth Rs 59,454 crore were reported to have been undertaken.
First published: August 30, 2024 | 4:10 a.m. IS
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