New Delhi:Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister of Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, inaugurated the International 6G Symposium today, held on the sidelines of ITU-WTSA24 and IMC 24. The event marks a pivotal moment in India’s ambition to lead the global race in 6G technology development.
In his inaugural address, Minister Scindia underscored the transformative potential of 6G, emphasizing its critical role in driving economic growth and technological innovation. “As 6G standards evolve, the shift towards software-centric technology presents a significant opportunity for India, with our large pool of engineering and software talent,” he said. He further noted that the Bharat 6G Alliance will be instrumental in the 6G standards-making process, predicting that “10% of 6G patents will come from India.”
Minister Scindia also highlighted India’s growing reputation as a global partner. “As the Voice of the Global South, India will continue to advocate for technology that is inclusive and affordable for all,” he remarked, reinforcing the country’s commitment to bridging the digital divide.
Organized by the Bharat 6G Alliance, the symposium signifies a major milestone in India’s journey toward becoming a global leader in 6G technology. The Alliance, a collaborative initiative involving Indian industry, academia, and research institutions, aims to foster innovation, standardization, and research in 6G telecommunications. It also seeks to contribute to global 6G standards through international bodies such as the ITU and 3GPP.
N.G. Subramaniam (NGS), Chair of the Bharat 6G Alliance and Chairperson of Tata Elxsi, opened the event by highlighting India’s collaborative efforts with industry and academia to shape the future of telecommunications. “India is actively working to empower people on a large scale through our partnerships,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of Telecom, emphasized the need for India to build a robust 6G infrastructure and foster public-private partnerships to remain a global frontrunner. “Developing a skilled workforce and collaborating with global academic institutions will be critical as we implement 6G over the next 6-8 years,” he stated.
As part of the symposium, the Bharat 6G Alliance signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with global collaborators, including the NGMN Alliance (Germany), 5G ACIA, UKI-FIN, 6G Forum (South Korea), and 6G Brasil. These partnerships further solidify India’s standing in the global 6G ecosystem.
The event also saw the release of reports by the Alliance’s working groups on key topics such as applications, spectrum, 6G use cases, revenue streams, and sustainability.
In the morning, Minister Scindia held a breakfast meeting with CEOs and leaders of prominent telecom companies including BSNL, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Qualcomm India, and others. Discussions centered on emerging technologies like AI and responsible behavior in telecommunications, with a focus on forming actionable plans for India’s future in the sector.
Additionally, a workshop organized by the National Communications Academy brought together over 100 participants from premier academic institutions across India. The workshop discussed 5G use cases in industries such as healthcare, smart grids, and agriculture, along with network transformations enabled by emerging technologies.