What is the India and U.S. initiative on future tech?

Subject :International Relations

Section: India and major power

What is iCET?

First announced in May 2022, alongside the QUAD meeting in Tokyo, Japan.
The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) is a framework agreed upon by India and the U.S. for cooperation on critical and emerging technologies in areas including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and wireless telecommunication.

Focus areas of the initiative:

The iCET seeks to position New Delhi and Washington D.C. as “trusted technology partners” to build supply chains and support the co-production and co-development of items.
Key takeaways:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)I;
- Developing a new defence industrial cooperation roadmap to accelerate technological cooperation for joint development and production;
- Developing common standards in AI;
- Developing a roadmap to accelerate defence technological cooperation and ‘innovation bridge’ to connect defence startups;
- Supporting the development of a semiconductor ecosystem;
- Strengthening cooperation on human spaceflight;
- Advancing cooperation on development in 5G and 6G; and
- Adopting Open RAN network technology in India.

Other areas of cooperation between India and USA:

The two countries are close to concluding a mega jet engine deal.
A new initiative to advance cutting-edge technology cooperation, known as the India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), is set to be launched.
India and the U.S. have also concluded a roadmap for ‘Defence Industrial Cooperation’ to guide the policy direction.
Establishment of a Strategic Trade Dialogue to remove regulatory “barriers” and review existing export control norms.

What is Open RAN?

Open Radio Access Network, or Open RAN, is a key part of a mobile network system that uses cellular radio connections to link individual devices to other parts of a network.
It comprises antennae, which transmits and receives signals to and from our smartphones or other compatible devices. The signal is then digitised in the RAN-base station and connected to the network.
O-RAN uses software to make hardware manufactured by different companies work together.

Advantages of Open-RAN:

An open environment expands the ecosystem and provides more Options to the Operators.
It will boost new opportunities for Indian entities to enter into the network equipment market.
It is expected to make 5G more flexible and cost-efficient.
The Open RAN architecture allows for the separation or disaggregation, between hardware and software with open interfaces.