India has joined the United States and 24 other countries in an international initiative to shape the development of next-generation 6G networks. The initiative seeks to promote secure, interoperable and resilient networks, strengthen technological competitiveness and encourage innovation.
The initiative was discussed at G20 Innovation Ministers’ Meeting in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, hosted by the US Department of Commerce and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
Key Features of Initiative
- India was not among the original 25 governments that endorsed the initiative at its launch. Early participants included the US, UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Finland and Sweden, among others.
- Participating governments will strengthen cooperation on 6G over the next 12 months and beyond.
- Key areas include network security, interoperability, resilience and trusted AI in the development and operation of 6G infrastructure.
- It is an early-stage policy coordination framework. It does not provide funding commitments, commercial projects, spectrum allocation or an India-specific deployment timeline.
- The meeting concluded with the G20 Innovation Ministerial Statement, which highlighted the role of emerging technologies in improving prosperity, productivity and opportunities.
- India also reiterated its intention to convert strategic partnerships in AI, semiconductors, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), robotics and other emerging technologies into greater innovation, economic growth and improved quality of life.
India’s Domestic 6G Programme
India is simultaneously developing its own 6G ecosystem through the Bharat 6G Mission and Bharat 6G Alliance.
The objectives include:
- Making India a global supplier of 6G intellectual property, products and affordable telecom solutions.
- Increasing Indian participation in international 6G standards bodies.
- Deployment of 6G technologies in India by 2030.
- Formal technical specifications are expected to begin taking shape from 2027.
What is 6G?
6G is the proposed sixth generation of mobile communication technology, intended to succeed 5G, with commercial rollout expected in the early 2030s.
Its major expected capabilities include:
| Feature | Expected Capability |
| Speed | Up to hundreds of Gbps |
| Latency | Sub-millisecond and near-zero end-to-end responsiveness |
| AI-native networks | AI integrated for network management, resource allocation and self-optimisation |
| Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) | Radio signals used for detecting objects, gestures and environmental changes without requiring active electronics on the target |