Speaking about their present and future at IMC 2025, Analog Devices spotlighted mmWave technology as the next big leap in high-speed broadband, promising faster, smarter, and more affordable urban connectivity.
The ninth India Mobile Congress (IMC 2025) opened on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi. Jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the event highlighted India’s telecom progress, particularly in indigenous networks, as noted by Mr Vivek Tyagi, Managing Director and Country Manager of Analog Devices (ADI).
“We were partners in some of the knowledge integration,” Tyagi said in a media interaction, highlighting that while previous efforts focused on 4G, the new frontier is millimetre wave (mmWave) technology.
ADI recognises the challenges in delivering high-speed broadband, particularly fibre-to-the-home (FTTH). While hundreds of millions of users access mobile internet daily, broadband connectivity at 100 Mbps or higher is essential for applications such as remote work, online education, and telemedicine. Urban deployment is often delayed due to municipal permissions, apartment restrictions, and crowded streets.
To address this, the Indian government auctioned the 26–27GHz FR2 spectrum (mmWave). Telcos are now leveraging existing tower infrastructure to transmit mmWave signals to apartment buildings, from where Ethernet cables deliver 100–300 Mbps via Wi-Fi routers. Airtel calls this solution ‘Xtream Fiber,’ while Jio brands it ‘AirFiber.’ mmWave enables rapid deployment without road digging and complements existing fibre networks, which remain optimal for long-distance and rural connectivity.
ADI is developing in-house mmWave radio frequency (RF) modules compatible with standard motherboards, with global testing partnerships including Taiwanese OEMs. GaN (Gallium Nitride) is used for high-power RF stages above 20 watts, while lower power stages are handled internally. Indian OEMs, such as VBT and Bajaj Networks, can build modules using ADI’s RF solutions, supporting local manufacturing.
Industries driving demand include telecom, broadband, and industrial IoT in remote locations, where high-speed real-time data streaming is critical. Minimal software is required for RF modules, with FPGA solutions enabling motherboard communication. Existing urban towers provide the infrastructure, while apartment-top units deliver connectivity.
ADI is preparing for 6G, though standards and spectrum allocations are not yet defined. Collaborations with IIT Madras, IIIT Hyderabad, and Lamtech Gandhinagar focus on testing, validation, and training skilled manpower. Public-private partnerships will support deployment in dense urban areas such as Noida, Gurgaon, and Bengaluru.
The company is expanding into automotive applications through GMSL (Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link), connecting multiple high-speed cameras to a central display for panoramic in-car views, potentially replacing side mirrors. GMSL also supports robotics, industrial automation, and remote environments.
On AI and 5G, ADI focuses on radio solutions for 5G, while AI applications manage GPU power in high-density servers, including heat dissipation via liquid cooling. mmWave modules feature energy-saving algorithms during low traffic.
ADI continues collaboration with government initiatives, universities, and OEMs to validate technology with telcos and explore smart city integration. The company also highlighted its alliance with the Tata Group to qualify process technologies in upcoming fabs and faculty training programs at Lamtech Gandhinagar and other institutions to address India’s semiconductor workforce needs.
