A parliamentary committee has reportedly urged the central government to back homegrown 5G and 6G technology and increase funding for domestic telecom research, as the panel examines the extent to which India can reduce its dependence on imported hardware.
The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology met last week to focus on self-reliance in telecom manufacturing. Several MPs who attended said discussions spanned electronics assembly, next-generation networks and artificial intelligence (AI). Members also indicated that the relevant ministries plan to seek additional financial support from the government in the upcoming Parliament session through supplementary grants.
The bigger concern centres on 6G. India largely missed the early phase of the 5G technology race and ended up relying on imported core equipment, and the panel does not want a repeat with the next generation. Members want the government to fund the development of an indigenous 5G and 6G stack now, before global standards are finalised.
The issue of funding for the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the research arm of the Department of Telecommunications, came up repeatedly during the meeting, with the panel pushing for a substantially larger budget to enable domestic equipment development rather than continued reliance on imports.
Officials and scientists from DoT and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) briefed the committee, with the two ministries reportedly handling much of the work jointly given that it spans AI, telecom and emerging technologies. The government has assured the panel of maximum support for next-generation telecom development.
The committee also revisited the issue of connectivity for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, reiterating earlier demands for stronger links, citing both strategic considerations and the needs of remote communities.
Members framed the broader self-reliance drive as a matter of technological sovereignty rather than purely an industrial concern, noting that with private firms abroad advancing rapidly, India needs to build the capacity to compete rather than remain a buyer of foreign technology.
The committee is expected to table its report in Parliament in the upcoming session, likely including recommendations on indigenous 5G and 6G development, funding for C-DOT and domestic manufacturing.
