Nokia Doubles Down on India: Major R&D Expansion & Workforce Upskilling Drive 

Nokia announces a major expansion of its Indian R&D centre, reinforcing its 30-year commitment to the country. The telecom leader plans significant local hiring at its existing 8,000-strong R&D facility and 4,000-person global services hub, prioritizing the skilling and recruitment of Indian talent, especially in critical areas like cybersecurity. Concurrently, BSNL has partnered with Nokia, Ericsson, Cisco, and Qualcomm to launch advanced training programs at its Jabalpur institute (BRBRAITT).

This collaboration will provide thousands of students annually with hands-on expertise in 5G, AI/ML, and networking technologies. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia hailed the initiative as vital for realizing India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision, aiming to transition the workforce into global value chains and elevate India from telecom services to product innovation. The dual move signifies a powerful investment in India’s future as a global telecom R&D and talent powerhouse, creating high-value career paths and domestic capability. Ultimately, it strengthens India’s position in shaping next-generation connectivity worldwide.

Nokia Doubles Down on India: Major R&D Expansion & Workforce Upskilling Drive 

New Delhi, August 12, 2025: In a significant boost to India’s tech ecosystem, Nokia has announced ambitious plans to significantly expand its Research and Development (R&D) footprint within the country. This move underscores India’s rapidly growing importance as a global hub for cutting-edge telecom innovation and talent development. 

Deepening a Three-Decade Commitment 

Speaking at a government event in New Delhi, Nokia India Country Manager Tarun Chhabra reaffirmed the company’s long-standing commitment to India, spanning over 30 years. “We are determined to play a very important role in skilling people locally and then hiring them,” Chhabra stated, highlighting a core pillar of Nokia’s strategy. This commitment translates into tangible growth: Nokia plans to hire significantly more people for its existing Indian R&D centre, which already employs a substantial workforce of approximately 8,000 engineers and researchers. 

Beyond R&D: A Comprehensive Hub 

Chhabra emphasized that Nokia’s Indian operations extend far beyond pure R&D. An additional 4,000 employees support global service operations from India, showcasing the country’s strategic role in Nokia’s worldwide network. “It means there is a huge opportunity,” Chhabra added, pointing to the expanding scope of high-value work being anchored in India. He also noted the increasing global focus on cybersecurity as a critical area where Indian talent will play a vital role. 

Building the Talent Pipeline: Industry & Government Collaborate 

This expansion is closely linked to a major national upskilling initiative. At the same event, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) signed landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with telecom giants Nokia, Ericsson, Cisco, and Qualcomm. The collaboration focuses on delivering advanced training programs at BSNL’s apex institute, the Bharat Ratna Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute of Telecom Training (BRBRAITT) in Jabalpur. 

The training scope is extensive and future-focused: 

• Nokia: Committed to training 300 students annually in critical areas like 5G radio and core networks, and AI/ML applications. 

• Ericsson: Will provide hands-on 5G training and online learning modules (Ericsson Educate Program) to over 2,000 students annually. Nitin Bansal, MD of Ericsson India, called it “an investment in building a future-ready workforce to lead innovation in 5G, IoT, and advanced telecom technologies.” 

• Qualcomm: Establishing a dedicated “Qualcomm Institute” at BRBRAITT for advanced 5G and AI training targeting students, BSNL trainers, and government stakeholders. 

• Cisco: Providing free access to online curriculum and digital tools, with BSNL coordinating implementation across non-profit educational institutions nationwide to promote equitable digital learning access. 

Aligning with National Vision 

Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia hailed the partnerships as a crucial step towards realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) and taking local talent global. “It is the beginning of a new journey where our human resource potential in India will be not only trained, but hopefully through this training will become part of the international value chain process,” Scindia stated. He expressed strong optimism that this initiative would help India transition “from the services sector to the product sector in the telecom revolution.” 

Why This Matters: Real Human Value 

This dual announcement represents more than corporate expansion: 

• Career Catalyst: Creates thousands of high-skilled job opportunities within India’s thriving tech sector, particularly in cutting-edge fields like 5G, AI/ML, and cybersecurity. 

• Skill Revolution: Directly addresses the need for specialized telecom and digital skills, making the Indian workforce globally competitive. The combined training initiatives aim to skill over 10,000 individuals annually just through these MoUs. 

• India as Innovation Epicenter: Nokia’s significant R&D investment cements India’s position not just as a services hub, but as a critical source of global telecom innovation and product development. 

• Public-Private Synergy: The collaboration between BSNL and global tech leaders demonstrates an effective model for leveraging industry expertise to build national capability, aligning with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ goal. 

Nokia‘s planned expansion, coupled with the industry-wide training push, signals a transformative phase for India’s telecom and technology landscape. It promises to empower a new generation of Indian engineers and technicians, fuel domestic innovation, and solidify the country’s indispensable role in shaping the future of global connectivity.