SRINAGAR: The Government of India has outlined a roadmap for the rollout of 6G technology by 2030, aligning with the global framework set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and has approved over Rs 275 crore for 104 research and development projects related to the next-generation network.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, said that the roadmap draws from ITU-R’s recommendation M.2160, titled “Framework and overall objectives of the future development of IMT for 2030 and beyond.” The recommendation envisions 6G—also referred to as IMT-2030—offering significantly enhanced capabilities over 5G, including ultra-high data speeds, lower latency, AI-native networking, and seamless connectivity through terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.
India’s efforts are anchored in the Bharat 6G Vision Document, released in March 2023, which sets out the goal of positioning the country as a global leader in 6G by designing, developing, and deploying advanced, secure, and intelligent communication networks.
To support this vision, several key initiatives have been launched-
100 5G labs have been established in academic institutions nationwide to build a 6G-ready ecosystem of researchers, start-ups, and students.
The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme, launched on 1 October 2022, has approved Rs 275.88 crore for 104 projects focusing on 6G R&D, encouraging collaboration between academia, start-ups, MSMEs, research bodies, and industry.
The Government has facilitated the formation of the Bharat 6G Alliance, bringing together domestic stakeholders across academia, industry, and standards organisations. The alliance has also signed Memoranda of Understanding with leading global 6G consortiums to strengthen international cooperation.
Under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), a Technology Innovation Hub has been established at the IIITB-Comet Foundation, hosted by the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore. The hub is focused on advanced communication technologies such as Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) and O-RAN Massive MIMO systems to improve future 6G network performance.
