Content
- Building a Viksit Bharat with 6G
Building a Viksit Bharat with 6G
India’s Transition to 6G
- Objective: Position India as a global hub for next-gen telecom aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047 goals.
- Approach: Triple-pillar vision — Affordability, Sustainability, and Ubiquity.
- Context: From 4G Atmanirbharta to 6G global leadership through indigenous R&D, public-private partnerships, and international alliances.
Relevance:
- GS-3 (Science & Technology): Indigenous telecom R&D, 6G innovation ecosystem, AI-integrated networks, and digital infrastructure.
- GS-3 (Economy): Telecom sector’s GDP contribution, innovation-led growth, and startup ecosystem development.
- GS-2 (Governance & International Relations): Global collaborations (NextG, 6G IA, ESA), standard-setting diplomacy, and digital inclusion policies.
Understanding 6G: Technical Overview
- Speed: Up to 1 Tbps theoretical peak; 1 microsecond latency (≈1000× faster than 5G).
- Spectrum Range: Operates in Terahertz (THz) bands (>100 GHz) enabling massive bandwidth.
- Capabilities:
- Real-time applications: Remote surgery, autonomous vehicles, industrial robotics.
- AI-Integrated Networks: Autonomous data routing and edge-cloud optimization.
- Advanced Features:
- Precision sensing and imaging.
- 3D holographic communication.
- Energy-efficient data transmission.
India’s 6G Vision (Released: 22 March 2023)
- Goal: India to become a frontline designer, developer, and deployer of 6G by 2030.
- Economic Projection:
- 6G-enabled telecom to add USD 1.2 trillion to India’s GDP by 2035.
- 10% of global 6G patents to originate from India.
- Key Principles:
- Affordability: Democratize access to advanced connectivity.
- Sustainability: Green networks and low-energy infrastructure.
- Ubiquity: Seamless digital inclusion across geographies.
Institutional Architecture
Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA)
- Launched: 2023 | Members (2025): 80+ (including 30+ startups).
- Composition: Industry, academia, telecom service providers, R&D bodies, and standardization agencies.
- Working Groups: 7 domains — Spectrum, Technology, Applications, Green & Sustainability, Use Cases, etc.
- Global Collaborations (MoUs):
- Alliances: NextG (USA), 6G IA (Europe), 6G Flagship (Finland), 6G Forum (S. Korea), XGMF (Japan), NGMN, 6G Brasil, ESA (Europe).
- National synergy: TSDSI and NASSCOM partnerships for standardization and AI integration.
- Objective: Create a self-reliant and globally competitive 6G ecosystem emphasizing secure, trusted telecom supply chains.
Key Government Initiatives and Schemes
100 5G Labs Programme
- Launched: FY 2023–24 across academic institutions.
- Aim: Build a 6G-ready human and innovation ecosystem.
- Functions:
- Hands-on research for UG/PG students.
- 5G/6G testbed access for startups and MSMEs.
- Academia-industry collaboration for developing prototypes.
Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF)
- Launched: 1 October 2022 under USOF.
- Purpose: Fund domestic R&D and commercialization of telecom technologies for rural inclusion.
- Financials:
- 115 projects (5G & 6G) sanctioned worth ₹310.6 crore (as of Sept 2025).
- Project duration: 1–5 years.
- Focus:
- Affordable broadband for rural/remote areas.
- Indigenous development of core network equipment, chips, and software.
- Collaboration among academia, startups, and industry.
Technology Innovation Hub at IIIT Bangalore (under NM-ICPS)
- Core Focus: Advanced Communication Systems for 5G+ and 6G networks.
- Technologies Under Development:
- Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) – enhances signal reflection and efficiency.
- O-RAN Massive MIMO – for scalable, software-defined networks.
- Priority: Patent creation and product-based IP generation for global 6G standards.
India’s Global Outreach and Leadership
- IMC 2025 (International 6G Symposium):
- Showcased India’s indigenous 4G stack as a foundation for India 6G Vision 2030.
- Released Joint Declaration on 6G Principles (10 Oct 2025).
- MoUs signed:
- B6GA–NASSCOM for AI-driven telecom applications.
- B6GA–ESA for satellite-6G integration.
- 4 Whitepapers Released:
- Spectrum Roadmap for 6G in India.
- Powering Next-Gen Telecom.
- AI and Network Evolution to 5G.
- 6G Architecture, Security & Exposure Framework for RF Sensing.
Data-Driven Outlook
| Parameter | 5G Era (2022–2025) | 6G Targets (2030–2035) |
| Peak Speed | 20 Gbps | 1 Tbps |
| Latency | 1 millisecond | 1 microsecond |
| Spectrum Range | 30–100 GHz | 100 GHz–1 THz |
| GDP Contribution | ~USD 450 billion (5G) | USD 1.2 trillion (6G) |
| Global Patent Share | <2% | Target: 10% |
| Satellite Market Size | USD 10B (2023) | USD 30B (by 2033) |
Strategic Significance for India
- Technological Self-Reliance: Indigenous 4G and 5G stacks reduce dependence on foreign vendors.
- Digital Inclusion: 6G to bridge rural–urban connectivity divide.
- Strategic Autonomy: Secure supply chains and trusted telecom architecture.
- Global Standing: Active role in setting ITU 6G standards and global patent frameworks.
- Green Telecom: Energy-efficient designs aligned with India’s Net Zero 2070 vision.
Challenges Ahead
- High R&D Costs: Need for sustained public–private funding beyond ₹300 crore approved.
- Spectrum Allocation: THz range requires international harmonization.
- Security & Trust: Protecting telecom networks from cyber-espionage and backdoor vulnerabilities.
- Talent Gap: Skilling and retaining advanced telecom engineers and researchers.
- IPR Ecosystem: Accelerating patent filing and international recognition of Indian standards.
Conclusion: Towards a Viksit Bharat 2047
- India’s 6G roadmap transforms telecom from an import-dependent sector to an export-capable innovation engine.
- Anchored in Atmanirbhar Bharat, Digital India, and Viksit Bharat 2047, the 6G ecosystem will ensure:
- Global standard-setting capacity.
- Inclusive, affordable, and secure connectivity.
- Integration of AI, space, and IoT to power a knowledge-driven economy.
