Japan–India Digital Partnership: Building the Infrastructure Behind the AI Revolution
At India Mobile Congress 2026, Japan outlined its FOIP Digital Corridor vision: 5G, All-Photonics Networks, data centres and submarine cables powering India’s AI future.
New Delhi, October 10, 2026 — As India accelerates its ambitions to become a global artificial intelligence powerhouse, Japan is emerging as an important technology partner in building the digital infrastructure that will underpin the country's AI-driven future. At India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, held in New Delhi, Hideo Fuseda, Vice-Minister for International Affairs at Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), outlined an ambitious vision for a trusted, resilient and energy-efficient digital ecosystem spanning India and the wider Indo-Pacific.
His presentation, titled Digital Infrastructure for AI Ecosystem — Japan's Vision for the FOIP Digital Corridor, highlighted how Japanese technologies and investments are already contributing to India's 5G networks, data centres, international connectivity and emerging AI applications. The underlying message was clear: the next phase of the AI revolution will depend as much on digital infrastructure as on artificial intelligence itself.
Japan's FOIP Digital Corridor: Connecting the Indo-Pacific for the AI Era
At the heart of Japan's digital strategy is the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Digital Corridor Initiative, a framework designed to strengthen trusted and resilient connectivity across the region.
The initiative responds to growing demand for cloud computing, AI-enabled services and cross-border data flows, while addressing vulnerabilities associated with infrastructure concentration, supply chains and geopolitical uncertainties.
Rather than relying on a single technology or connectivity route, Japan envisions a diversified digital ecosystem built around five interconnected pillars:
Submarine cables: Expanding high-capacity international data connectivity.
Mobile networks: Strengthening advanced telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G and future-generation networks.
Data centres and cloud: Supporting the computing capacity required for AI applications.
All-Photonics Networks (APN): Enabling high-speed, energy-efficient optical connectivity.
Non-terrestrial networks: Extending connectivity through satellite and other airborne communication platforms.
Together, these technologies are intended to create a multi-layered network connecting infrastructure across land, sea, air and space.
For India, the initiative presents opportunities to deepen technological cooperation with Japan while strengthening the digital infrastructure needed for its expanding AI economy.
Beyond 5G: Why AI Needs a New Generation of Digital Infrastructure
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving beyond conventional computing environments into manufacturing facilities, transportation systems, hospitals, logistics networks and smart cities. This transformation places unprecedented demands on communications infrastructure.
In his IMC 2026 address, Fuseda identified three fundamental requirements for an AI-enabled society: greater computing power, faster and wider connectivity, and significantly improved energy efficiency.
One of Japan's proposed solutions is the development of All-Photonics Networks, which use optical technologies to enable high-capacity communication with improved energy efficiency. APN technology could become increasingly important as AI workloads expand and data centres face mounting pressure to manage electricity consumption.
Japan's longer-term vision for digital infrastructure in the 2030s also incorporates Beyond 5G/6G networks, interconnected data centres, satellites and high-altitude platform stations (HAPS). The objective is to create an infrastructure environment in which AI services can operate reliably across industries and geographical locations.
From Technology Exports to Make in India: Japanese Companies Deepen Their Presence
Perhaps the most significant aspect of Japan's emerging digital partnership with India is its emphasis on local technology development and manufacturing. Japanese companies are increasingly working with Indian partners to develop software, manufacture telecommunications equipment and strengthen domestic technological capabilities.
Rakuten Symphony: Developing 5G Software in India
Rakuten Symphony is developing virtualised Radio Access Network (vRAN) software in India in collaboration with Tejas Networks. The partnership contributes to locally developed 5G solutions for the Indian telecommunications market.
NEC Corporation: Localising 5G Equipment Manufacturing
NEC is working with Tejas Networks through technology licensing to support the local production of 5G Radio Units in India, strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities.
OREX SAI: Supporting India's 5G Deployment
OREX SAI is collaborating with Indian companies to manufacture 5G Radio Units locally. Its technology has been adopted by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for 5G network deployment near Delhi.
These developments demonstrate how Japan's participation in India's digital transformation is extending beyond the supply of imported equipment. By combining Japanese telecommunications expertise with Indian manufacturing and software capabilities, the partnerships support India's Make in India initiative and the development of a more diversified domestic telecom ecosystem.
All-Photonics Networks: A New Frontier for India–Japan Cooperation
Another important area of collaboration is next-generation optical networking.
1Finity, part of the Fujitsu Group, has established a local subsidiary in India to strengthen support for All-Photonics Network deployment. The company is also planning to launch ONIC India (Open Networking Innovation Center India), an APN laboratory, in January 2027 to support engagement with Indian telecommunications operators. The initiative could provide a platform for exploring advanced optical networking technologies and their potential application in India's future digital infrastructure.
As AI adoption grows, high-capacity optical networks may become essential for connecting distributed computing resources and supporting increasingly data-intensive services. For India, cooperation in APN technology offers an opportunity to engage with an emerging area of telecommunications innovation rather than focusing exclusively on existing network technologies.
Japanese Investment Strengthens India's Data Centre and Submarine Cable Infrastructure
India's AI ambitions will also require substantial investments in data storage, cloud computing and international connectivity. Japanese companies are contributing to these areas through infrastructure partnerships.
NTT and the Japan ICT Fund (JICT) are supporting data-centre development and operations in Mumbai through investment in a local company. The initiative aims to strengthen India's digital infrastructure and support the growing requirements of AI-ready data centres.
NTT and JICT are also involved in developing a submarine cable connection between Singapore and India.
The project is intended to expand high-capacity international connectivity, facilitate cross-border data flows and strengthen the infrastructure supporting digital services.
These investments highlight an important dimension of India–Japan cooperation: the development of physical infrastructure that enables cloud services, digital commerce and AI applications.
As India's digital economy expands, resilient international connectivity and reliable computing infrastructure will become increasingly important to its competitiveness.
From Digital Infrastructure to Physical AI and Smart Mobility
Japan's engagement with India's AI ecosystem is not limited to telecommunications networks and computing facilities. Japanese companies are also collaborating with Indian partners to translate advanced digital technologies into practical applications.
Aeterlink, a Japanese technology company, is working with India's Softdel Systems to integrate wireless power sensor technologies with AI, Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-based solutions. The collaboration focuses on developing data acquisition and control platforms for Physical AI, an emerging field in which AI interacts with real-world systems through sensors, machines and connected devices.
In mobility, Honda is using connected vehicle data to develop a road-condition management system under the Japan–India Mobility Partnership.
Meanwhile, Zero-Sum is advancing cooperation with Indian partners in Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technologies and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), including technical collaboration through workshops.
These initiatives illustrate the broader potential of India–Japan digital cooperation in smart transportation, industrial automation and data-driven public infrastructure. They also demonstrate how investment in connectivity can support innovation in sectors far beyond telecommunications.
Japan Pavilion at IMC 2026: A Platform for New Technology Partnerships
Japan's participation at India Mobile Congress 2026 provided a visible demonstration of the growing breadth of bilateral technology engagement. With 11 Japanese companies participating in the Japan Pavilion, the country showcased capabilities spanning 5G, All-Photonics Networks, AI, mobility and advanced digital infrastructure.
The Pavilion also served as a platform for dialogue between Japanese technology providers and Indian industry stakeholders, creating opportunities to explore commercial partnerships, local manufacturing, research collaboration and technology deployment.
Japan's emphasis on partnerships with Indian companies reflects a wider evolution in bilateral economic engagement, where collaboration increasingly involves local development and the creation of technological capabilities.
The Japan Pavilion also welcomed Fumio Yamazaki, Minister (Economic Affairs) at the Embassy of Japan in India, who visited India Mobile Congress 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. During the visit, he greeted Hideo Fuseda, Vice-Minister for International, and joined him in interacting with exhibitors at the Japan Pavilion. He also visited prominent exhibitors across Hall 1 and Hall 2, gaining insights into the latest developments in telecommunications, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies. The visit underscored Japan’s active engagement with India’s technology ecosystem and the importance of strengthening business connections and exploring new avenues for bilateral cooperation.
The Next Chapter of India–Japan Technology Cooperation
The significance of Japan's digital infrastructure initiatives extends beyond individual commercial projects.
India offers a large and expanding digital market, substantial engineering talent and a growing ecosystem of technology companies. Japan brings experience in advanced telecommunications, optical networking, industrial technology and infrastructure development.
Together, these complementary strengths create opportunities to develop the foundations of a more connected and AI-enabled economy. However, translating the vision into large-scale outcomes will depend on sustained investment, commercially viable projects, technology adoption and continued cooperation between industry and government.
The FOIP Digital Corridor Initiative provides a strategic framework for this engagement, while Japanese companies' activities in India offer concrete examples of how cooperation is already taking shape. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in economic activity, the strength of a country's digital infrastructure will play a defining role in determining how effectively it can adopt and scale emerging technologies.
For India and Japan, the next frontier of technology cooperation may therefore lie not simply in developing AI applications, but in jointly building the networks, computing infrastructure and industrial capabilities that make the AI economy possible.
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