Swapnil Srivastava, Director, TMT, EY Parthenon
6G wireless technology, though still in its conceptual phase, is set to become a game changer as the transition from 5G to 6G is gaining momentum across the world. Not only is it expected to be nearly 100 times faster than 5G, but 6G technology is speculated to revolutionise connectivity through seamless human-to-machine and machine-to-machine integration.
India is now pulling out all the stops, positioning itself as a leader in designing and deploying 6G technologies through Bharat 6G Vision. Launched in March 2023, Bharat 6G Vision is based on the principles of affordability, sustainability and ubiquity, with aspirations for India to contribute significantly to defining global 6G standards and register at least 10 per cent of patents worldwide. It outlines how India will be a key contributor in the design, development and deployment of 6G technologies by 2030.
The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has facilitated the setting up of the Bharat 6G Alliance, comprising domestic industry, academia, national research institutions and standards organisations to develop the 6G action plan in accordance with the Bharat 6G Vision.
NPT 2025 and India’s role in shaping global 6G standards
The recently released draft National Telecom Policy 2025 (NTP-25) positions India to take an early lead in 6G by aligning spectrum and standards’ development from the outset. It outlines plans for the timely release of International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), mmWave and sub-THz spectrum bands, backed by a dynamic national spectrum road map and active engagement in global standards development organisations to secure a meaningful share of 6G-related intellectual property. This is complemented by a strong research and development (R&D) and talent pipeline, with funding for advanced 5G/6G research, regulatory sandboxes, THz experimentation, and initiatives such as the Bharat 6G Alliance and the Indian Institute of Telecom Technology aimed at creating a highly skilled workforce.
The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) has been set up by the government under DoT to promote the ecosystem for the research, design, prototyping, proof-of-concept testing, IPR creation, field testing, security, certification and manufacturing of telecommunication products. In January 2025, the Centre for Development of Telematics partnered with IIT Delhi to develop indigenous THz components for 6G under the TTDF to create core components for THz systems, which will be crucial for 6G communications and other applications.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recently published the framework for IMT-2030 (6G) development. India is actively participating in discussions at the ITU regarding 6G. By being involved early on, India is in a unique position to influence the development of regulations that align with its national goals and technological priorities.
The government has initiated critical regulatory reforms to address infrastructure, financial and spectrum challenges. The recent refarming of the 687 MHz spectrum, with 328 MHz released immediately, aims to bridge the projected 2,000 MHz demand by 2030, enhancing 5G performance and laying the groundwork for 6G. Concurrently, the administrative allocation of satellite spectrum aims to balance telecom and tech-sector priorities, with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India finalising pricing mechanisms to enable low earth orbit satellite services.
How emerging technologies are moulding the 6G ecosystem
Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing are set to play a transformative role in shaping India’s 6G ecosystem. The National Quantum Mission, launched with a budget of Rs 60.04 billion, aims to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers, secure quantum communication networks and advanced quantum materials by 2030.
These advancements are expected to not only enhance secure satellite communications but also support AI-driven applications by enabling faster calculations, complex task analysis and improved outcome precision. Together, these technologies will drive innovation in 6G use cases across industries such as transportation, healthcare and education while fostering indigenous R&D to position India as a global leader in next-generation connectivity.
6G networks: Next-gen digital infrastructure
6G will be built on the foundations of 5G and 5G Advanced, and is likely to take us much deeper into connected intelligent machines, programmable physical worlds, an internet of senses and a more connected, sustainable world. 6G is likely to feature entirely new capability dimensions, including extreme performance and coverage, integrated and cognitive computing functions within the network, and even functionality beyond communication, such as spatial and timing data, as well as joint communication and sensing.
6G networks will be capable of delivering much faster speeds than today’s high speed 5G networks. This includes the capability to provide several hundred Gbps and end-to-end submillisecond latency in specific scenarios and under certain conditions. 6G will not only be about speed. Other expected advances include global coverage, improved adaptability and programmability, simplified architecture design, improved energy performance and the ability to support trillions of devices.
Next-generation 6G digital infrastructure will build upon and extend beyond the existing 5G ecosystem. Key differentiators will include:
- Evolved network architecture: Distributed and decentralised network architecture, moving away from the traditional centralised core networks used in 5G.
- Network slicing: Slices customised for different applications with varying requirements (speed and latency) for 6G. This eliminates the need for entirely new networks for each specific use case.
- SDN and NFV: Software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualisation (NFV) will enable telcos to leverage the existing physical infrastructure (towers and fibre) while deploying software upgrades for 6G functionalities.
- AI-driven network: AI and machine learning will play a significant role in managing complex networks, dynamically adapting to changing conditions and enabling autonomous network operation.
- Spectrum efficiency: Dynamic spectrum sharing and beamforming will optimise spectrum usage for future 6G applications.
The draft NTP-25 also promotes next-generation network architectures, including SDN/NFV, edge and cloud integration, immersive technologies like augmented reality/virtual reality and digital twins, as well as seamless convergence between non-terrestrial networks and terrestrial systems, which are the key enablers of 6G’s compute-communication fusion. Equally critical is its “security and trust by design” approach, advocating quantum-safe cryptography, cryptographic agility and a trusted supply chain framework to ensure 6G networks are secure and resilient from inception.
Global 6G developments
- China: China has been aggressive in its 6G push, supported by heavy government funding. It launched the world’s first 6G test satellite in 2020, demonstrating its commitment to early
development. - South Korea: South Korea is focusing on areas like high frequency spectrum utilisation and network slicing for diverse applications with investment in 6G research.
- Japan: Focus areas include THz communications, network security and integration with AI. Additionally, Japan has proposed collaborative efforts with other countries like Finland to accelerate progress.
- European Union (EU): The EU launched initiatives like the European 6G Action Plan to guide R&D efforts towards establishing European leadership in 6G standardisation.
- US: The US government’s approach is less centralised compared to other countries. Major hyperscalers are investing in 6G research and have joined the Next G Alliance, which was established in October 2020 to create a 6G development and adoption road map.
The way forward
Overall, India’s 6G strategy focuses on early investment, domestic innovation, collaborative efforts and participation in standardisation processes. By taking these steps, India aims to be a leader in the 6G race and reap the economic and technological benefits of this next-generation technology.
With 5G expected to contribute $450 billion to India’s GDP over the next five years, transitioning to 6G presents a critical challenge as well as an opportunity for telecom operators. With the monetisation of 5G technology currently under way, discussions about commercial 6G deployments have started gaining momentum. Looking ahead, both these technologies will drive the future and transform wireless communication in India.
