Ericsson, Airtel, and Volvo Join Forces to Advance 5G-Powered Digital Twin and AI Tech in Manufacturing

In a significant move toward Industry 4.0, Ericsson, Bharti Airtel, and Volvo Group have announced a research partnership to explore 5G-driven digital twin technology, extended reality (XR), and artificial intelligence (AI) in the manufacturing sector.

The collaboration, set to take place at Volvo Group’s factory and R&D center in Bangalore, will focus on integrating the physical and digital worlds to enhance efficiency and innovation. By leveraging Airtel’s advanced 5G network, the research aims to optimize operations, predict failures, and improve real-time training using immersive technologies.

"Through this collaboration, our high-speed, low-latency 5G network will transform the manufacturing sector by enabling real-time XR applications, unlocking new revenue streams, and accelerating Industry 4.0 adoption," said Sharat Sinha, Director & CEO of Airtel Business.
Digital twin technology, which creates virtual replicas of physical systems using sensor data and machine learning, is emerging as a key monetization avenue for 5G-powered industrial applications. The partnership will allow industries to experiment with "what-if" scenarios, optimize production workflows, and train workers in immersive environments, all without disrupting real-world operations.

"By combining our expertise in network technology with cutting-edge XR applications, we are shaping the future of industrial digitalization, not just in India, but globally," said Nitin Bansal, Managing Director, Ericsson India.