Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurated the International 6G Symposium in New Delhi, highlighting India's growing role in global 6G development. The event was held alongside the ITU-WTSA24 and IMC 24 conferences.
During the inaugural address, Scindia emphasized the transformative potential of 6G technology for economic growth and innovation. "As 6G standards evolve, India has a significant opportunity due to its large pool of engineering and software talent," he said.
Scindia also pointed out that the Bharat 6G Alliance will contribute to shaping 6G standards and predicted that India will hold 10% of the global 6G patents. He also discussed India's commitment to affordable and inclusive technology, referring to India as the voice of the Global South.
The Bharat 6G Alliance, a collaborative initiative of Indian industry, academia, and national research institutions, plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and contributing to global 6G standards. It works closely with international bodies like ITU and 3GPP to shape the future of telecommunications.
Scindia reiterated India's ambition to lead the global 6G ecosystem, following the country’s contributions to the 5G landscape. He highlighted the importance of international collaboration in achieving this goal.
NG Subramaniam, chair of the Bharat 6G Alliance and Tata Elxsi, stressed India's active collaboration with industry, academia, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to drive large-scale technological advancements. Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary Telecom, in his keynote address, emphasized the need for developing strong 6G infrastructure and fostering public-private partnerships to maintain India's leadership in global telecommunications. He also highlighted the importance of building a skilled workforce to implement 6G in the coming years.
The Bharat 6G Alliance signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with global partners, including the NGMN Alliance, 5G ACIA from Germany, UKI-FIN, UK TIN, 6G Forum from South Korea, and 6G Brasil. These partnerships aim to enhance collaboration in the development of 6G technologies.
Bharat 6G Alliance has formed seven working groups focusing on various aspects of 6G, such as spectrum, device technologies, green and sustainable solutions, AI and sensing, security, and more. During the event, reports were released on key topics like 6G use cases, revenue streams, and sustainability.
Earlier, Scindia held discussions with leaders of top telecom companies to address issues related to AI, data centers, social inclusion, and sustainability. The goal of these talks was to create actionable strategies for advancing India's telecommunications sector.
A workshop, attended by representatives from over 100 academic institutions, explored the development of 5G use cases in industries like healthcare, agriculture, and education. The workshop also discussed opportunities for Indian academia to participate in the development of global telecommunications standards.
The symposium is a major milestone in India’s digital journey, reaffirming the country's commitment to becoming a global leader in advanced communication technologies. WTSA 2024, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), serves as a platform for setting global telecommunications standards, bringing together industry leaders and policymakers from around the world.
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