In today’s Finshots, we dive into India’s big plans for 6G and what it will take to achieve the government’s ambitious goals.
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The Story
A few days ago, Elon Musk once again dazzled the world by unveiling some futuristic tech — driverless cars and humanoid robots that seemed straight out of a sci-fi movie. But these technologies are real, and they’re coming sooner than you might think. The potential is enormous too, from cars driving themselves to robots doing human tasks, and the future looks increasingly like one where machines and humans interact seamlessly.
But let’s pause for a moment. Why are we talking about Tesla’s innovations here?
Because none of this futuristic tech can exist on a large scale without one crucial element - networks. Super-fast, reliable networks capable of handling huge amounts of data.
And that’s where 6G comes in.
You’re probably familiar with 5G — maybe you’re even using it right now. But 6G? Well, that’s about to take things to a whole new level. While 5G is still rolling out, 6G is expected to be fully deployed by 2030, promising 100 times faster speeds and near-zero lag in connection (called network latency). So, we’re talking about a world where AI-driven machines and entire smart cities operate in perfect harmony.
And that brings us to India.
Turns out, India has some pretty big ambitions when it comes to 6G. We rank in the top six globally for filing 6G patents.1 And the government has set a bold target — to secure 10% of global 6G patents in the next three years.
And patents do matter a lot in this context. Think of it this way. Owning patents in 6G is like holding the keys to the future. It allows countries and companies to set global standards, charge licensing fees, and even influence how the technology develops. So, for India, securing these patents is about shaping the very infrastructure that will drive the next wave of technological innovation.
It also wants to contribute one-sixth of global 6G standards by 2027. To make this happen, the government launched the Bharat 6G Alliance, a network of stakeholders driving research and development. The vision is to create a nine-year mission (from 2022 to 2031) to fund 6G in three phases, and lead to field trials and global standard contributions in the next few years.
But the big question remains: Is India really ready to lead the 6G race?
To answer that, let’s start with a simple explanation of what 6G really is.
Imagine 5G as a motorcycle — it’s fast, efficient and pretty cool. But 6G? That’s a jet plane. It’s 100 times faster than 5G and designed to support everything from AI-powered robots to holographic communication and autonomous vehicles. So it’s not just about faster internet speeds; it’s about creating a world where everything is connected in real-time. Or in simple terms, a world where remote-controlled factories, self-driving cars, and smart wearables that communicate with your senses will be the norm.
But all this tech needs infrastructure, research and a highly skilled workforce to back it up.
And here’s where things get tricky for India.
See, building a 6G network isn’t just about flipping a switch. It requires massive investments in infrastructure. While India has made impressive strides in rolling out 5G, we’re still not fully prepared for 6G. Right now, India has about 4.5 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) from over 29 lakh BTSs in total. This infrastructure connects mobile devices to cellular networks. But for 6G, we’ll need a whole new level of infrastructure — fiber optics, satellites and technology that can handle higher frequencies.
Then there’s the issue of research and development. For 6G, the Indian government has allocated ₹10,000 crores for 6G research over the next decade.2 That’s a decent start, but when you compare it to the ₹38,000 crores ($4.5 billion) committed by Japan and the US, it seems relatively small.3 And let’s not forget China, where the telecom giant Huawei started work on 6G in 2019 and spent over $22 billion on R&D in 2021 alone.4 So, India is going to need to step up its R&D game if it wants to stay competitive. Because it’s not just about building infrastructure but also about developing the cutting-edge tech that will power 6G.
But perhaps the biggest hurdle is the skills gap. Building and maintaining a 6G network requires a workforce of highly trained engineers, AI specialists, and telecom experts. And right now, India’s education system isn’t fully equipped to produce the talent needed for this massive leap in technology. Although we have about 1.5 million engineering graduates every year, 48% of those remain unemployed.5 And that leads to the talent migrating to better tech enabled countries. That also explains the highest rate of economic migration of the workforce in the world. So, the bottom line is that we’ll need to focus on upskilling our workforce. And we’ll need to do it fast.
There’s also the issue of sustainability. Since most of the 6G supporting communication devices will be battery-powered, they can have a huge carbon footprint. So, as India pushes for carbon neutrality by 2070, balancing the energy demands of 6G with our sustainability goals is going to be a major challenge.
And then there’s cybersecurity. With faster networks come more sophisticated cyberattacks. As 6G rolls out, India will need to significantly ramp up its cybersecurity measures. Otherwise, we could face a wave of data breaches, fraud and other cyber threats that will put citizens at risk.
So, where does all of this leave us, you ask?
India’s progress in 6G patents is promising, but we still have a long way to go. A 2021 study by Japan’s Nikkei and Cyber Creative Institute revealed that China held 40% of 6G patents, while the US held 35%. India, meanwhile, accounted for just 1.5%. That’s a big gap.6
On top of that, China also leads in setting global standards for 6G technology. India, by comparison, is lagging behind. For context, if a country wants to shape the future of 6G, it can't just sit on the sidelines. It needs to be part of the technical committees and subcommittees of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which brings together standard bodies from 160 countries. And a Geneva Internet Platform study found that as of 2021, India was only part of 400 such committees, while China was involved in 732.7
So, does this mean that India’s 6G dreams are doomed?
Not quite. Because 6G is crucial for India’s future. It will power smart cities, automated industries and revolutionize sectors like healthcare and education for the world’s most populous nation.
Besides, don’t forget that 6G will be built on the infrastructure and capacity established by 5G networks. And India has been on fire with its 5G rollout, setting up over 4,00,000 stations in the first 15 months which is faster than any other country. The excitement is clear, with telecom giants like Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio gearing up for the 6G era. Even new players, like Adani Network, are stepping in through telecom spectrum auctions, ready to join the action.
Public-private partnerships will also be key to accelerating 6G development, and India has already started collaborating with nations and experts on this front.
So yeah, India’s ambitions for 6G are bold, but filing patents and setting targets is just one piece of the puzzle. To truly claim a seat at the global 6G table, the foundational bits — skilled labor, cutting-edge infrastructure and strong R&D, need to fall into place.
The numbers show progress. Mobile connections in India have skyrocketed from 904 million to 1.16 billion, broadband users have jumped from 60 million to 924 million and the fiber optic network has expanded from 11 million to 41 million kilometers. So India seems to be on the right track.
But it’s not just about the scale. It’s about how quickly we adapt.
We’ve still got about six years until 2030, the year when 6G is expected to roll out. And if India’s rapid adoption of 4G and 5G is any indication, we just might find ourselves leading the charge when the 6G curtain rises.
And we hope to see that in reality in 2030.
Until next time…
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Story Sources: Business Standard [1] [7], Indian Express [2], European Parliament [3], 6G World [4] [5], Nikkei Asia [6]
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