The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has formed as many as six academia-heavy task forces under the ‘technology innovation group’ (TIG) on 6G technology. In a notification issued dated December 30, 2021, the DoT mandated immediate deliverables by March 31, 2022 that included mapping of 6G activities and capabilities worldwide, and a white paper on India’s competencies, including research and pre-standardisation activities.
The new task groups are headed by Bhaskar Ramamurthy, director, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Chennai, Abhay Karandikar, director, IIT-Kanpur, Bharadwaj Amrutur, director, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, Kiran Kumar Kuchi, director, IIT-Hyderabad on multi-platform for next generation networks, spectrum policy, multi-disciplinary innovative solutions, and devices respectively.
Meanwhile, the group for research and development is headed by Ashok Kumar Tiwari, member (technology), Digital Communications Commission (DCC). Also, a task force on international standards is headed by NG Subramaniam, chairman, Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI).
However, the DoT has empowered the chairpersons of newly-created task forces to rope in global experts for mentorship if needed. Earlier, in November 2021, the government formed an innovation group headed by K Rajaraman, secretary, DoT, to create a vision to develop a 6G roadmap in the country.
