Reliance Jio, a prominent telecommunications company in India, is reportedly in discussions with Tesla regarding the establishment of a captive private network for a potential Tesla manufacturing plant in India.
This network would handle critical operations at faster speeds and could also explore connected car solutions and automation of production processes, among other possibilities.
Reliance Jio and Tesla In Talks For Establishing Captive Private Network
Sources indicate that the talks between Jio and Tesla are still in the preliminary stage, and any further progress is expected once Tesla finalizes its plans for setting up a manufacturing unit in India.
Although Jio has not explicitly confirmed the discussions with Tesla, an anonymous Jio executive mentioned that the company is actively engaging with various enterprises, including those in the automobile, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors, to offer their network-building and management services for potential use cases in the context of 5G connectivity.
Private 5G networks are seen as a promising application of the technology, as they allow enterprises to experience high-speed data and enhanced data carrying capacity within their premises, which may not be feasible with public networks. These networks can enable companies to leverage Industry 4.0 technologies, which are considered the next revolution in manufacturing.
Indian Govt. Officials Express Openness to Concessions And Subsidies
Indian government officials, including the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, have expressed openness to concessions and subsidies to facilitate Tesla’s manufacturing operations in India.
Qualcomm has previously highlighted the advantages of private networks, emphasizing their ability to provide coverage in remote locations, offer more network control and configuration options, and allow enterprises to retain sensitive operational data on-site.
In India, Bharti Airtel and Tech Mahindra have already partnered to deploy a “5G for Enterprise” solution at Mahindra and Mahindra’s manufacturing facility, making it the country’s first 5G-enabled auto manufacturing unit.
Tesla’s interest in setting up a manufacturing base in India has prompted a change in its approach, with the company no longer emphasizing the reduction of import duties on completely built units as a precondition. A team from Tesla has been engaging with key ministries and officials, including those in the Prime Minister’s Office, to discuss their manufacturing plans for India.
