Tejas Networks Inks Landmark 5G Deal with NEC, Reshaping Global Telecom

BENGALURU, India – February 26, 2026 – In a significant move poised to reshape the global telecommunications landscape, India’s Tejas Networks today announced it has secured a major agreement with Japanese technology giant NEC Corporation to manufacture and supply 5G massive MIMO radios. The deal marks a pivotal moment for the Indian high-tech manufacturing sector and signals a deepening strategic shift among global players to diversify critical 5G supply chains.

The agreement will see the Tata Group-backed company provide its advanced, multi-antenna 5G radios for NEC's global deployments. While financial terms were not disclosed, the partnership is a powerful validation of Tejas Networks' technology on the world stage and strengthens NEC's push towards building more open and resilient network infrastructures.

A Strategic Alliance to Diversify 5G Supply Chains

The partnership arrives at a critical juncture for the global telecom industry, which has been grappling with geopolitical tensions and the risks associated with a heavy reliance on a small number of equipment vendors. NEC explicitly framed the deal as a strategic imperative to ensure stability and flexibility for its customers.

"Today's milestone furthers our collaboration with Tejas Networks for 5G massive MIMO radio and to achieve supply-chain diversification which helps in mitigating risks to our customers by building a resilient, flexible globalized ecosystem," said Masayuki Kayahara, Corporate Senior Vice President of the Global Network Division at NEC Corporation, in a statement.

This move aligns with NEC's broader strategic pivot. The company recently decided to cease new in-house development of 4G and 5G radio access base stations (RAN), a market where it held a marginal share against entrenched global competitors. Instead, NEC is focusing its R&D efforts on future 6G technologies and championing an open, collaborative ecosystem for 5G. By partnering with Tejas Networks, NEC can offer a comprehensive and competitive 5G RAN solution without the overhead of direct manufacturing, leveraging the Indian firm's specialized expertise.

India's 'Make in India' Gains Global Validation

For Tejas Networks and India's burgeoning technology sector, the agreement is a landmark achievement. It serves as a powerful endorsement of the 'Make in India' initiative, a government-led program designed to establish the country as a global manufacturing and innovation hub. By producing and exporting sophisticated 5G equipment, Tejas Networks is demonstrating India's capability to compete at the highest level of technology manufacturing.

The company, a part of the influential Tata Group, has been a key participant in India's efforts to build indigenous telecom capabilities. This deal provides a significant boost to those ambitions, projecting Indian technology onto the global stage.

"We are delighted to win this deal in partnership with NEC as we expand our business internationally," stated Sanjay Malik, Chief Strategy and Business Officer of Tejas Networks. "We are looking forward to building on this momentum and replicate this success in other 4G/5G mobile networks across emerging and established markets."

The positive momentum is further supported by government incentives. Tejas Networks was recently a recipient of funds from the Ministry of Communications under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products, a program designed to bolster domestic production and exports.

The Power of Open Architecture

A key technological advantage underpinning Tejas Networks' success is its commitment to open standards. The company's 5G massive MIMO radios, including its high-capacity 32TR and 64TR models, are compliant with both 3GPP and O-RAN standards. 3GPP provides the foundational global specifications for mobile networks, while the Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) standard promotes a more flexible, disaggregated, and interoperable network architecture.

This dual compliance allows network operators to break free from traditional vendor lock-in, where they are forced to source all components from a single supplier's proprietary ecosystem. With O-RAN, operators can mix and match best-in-class hardware and software from various vendors, fostering innovation, reducing costs, and increasing network flexibility. By embracing this open philosophy, Tejas Networks positions itself not just as a supplier but as a key enabler of next-generation network deployments, challenging the dominance of established RAN vendors like Ericsson and Nokia.

Beyond Supply: A Partnership for Future Innovation

The collaboration between Tejas and NEC extends far beyond a simple manufacturing contract. The companies have signaled a commitment to long-term innovation, with a focus on co-developing next-generation wireless technologies. This deepening relationship builds on a previous technology collaboration agreement from 2025, where NEC licensed key 5G technologies to Tejas.

Arnob Roy, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Tejas Networks, emphasized the forward-looking nature of the alliance. "Our partnership with NEC will accelerate wireless innovation by leveraging our respective expertise in carrier-class product development for global telcos. We will continue to work closely with NEC to co-create leading-edge 5G/5G-Advanced solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers worldwide."

This focus on 5G-Advanced—the next evolution of 5G promising enhanced AI capabilities, improved efficiency, and support for extended reality (XR)—perfectly complements NEC's strategic R&D goals. As NEC concentrates on designing the architecture for 6G and beyond, it can rely on Tejas Networks as a trusted partner for manufacturing and co-innovating on the cutting-edge hardware that will power the networks of today and tomorrow. This symbiotic relationship creates a powerful force for innovation, combining Japanese design and systems integration expertise with Indian manufacturing prowess and technological agility.