India Plans 6G Transition, Focusing on Domestic Tech and AI Integration

New Delhi: The government is set to kick-start discussions to firm up a roadmap for transitioning the country to sixth-generation (6G) mobile communications, with a focus on developing domestic technology and a supportive ecosystem to boost indigenous research, patent creation and optimised spectrum sharing, said officials.

Inter-ministerial consultations will soon begin under the Niti Aayog on policies related to spectrum licensing and technology deployment, they said. The aim is to ensure India is at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and technological advancements in the sector, said a senior government official.

"The idea is to integrate all existing technologies while transitioning to AI-based architecture for smooth roll-out of 6G in the country," said the official, who did not wish to be identified.

This requires regulatory alignment between different regulatory bodies including the Department of Telecommunications and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre.

Though India plans to launch 6G in five years, the official said this is the time to start preparing for the transition to ensure all stakeholders have enough time to fully adapt to the new technology.

The focus of the deliberations will be on universal coverage, including integration of cellular towers with satellites and low-Earth orbit networks to provide internet access even in remote parts of the country such as distant villages and oceanic areas.

The plan is to integrate AI for space-to-earth connectivity, powering advanced applications like holographic communications while optimising data processing, storage and sharing across networks.

India is targeting a 10% share of global 6G patents by 2030, up from about 6-8% at present. With around 4,000 patents, it already ranks among the top six nations in terms of 6G patent filings.

The government in 2023 facilitated the setting up of Bharat 6G Alliance, a collaborative platform that unites researchers, private companies and academia to drive global partnerships, standard development and research into 6G devices, sustainability and use cases.

A recent report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India says 8% of India's population, or about 579 million people, remained non-active internet users, suggesting significant scope for expansion of the digital economy.