The Bharat 6G vision document: how India plans to lead telecommunication tech

• Despite over 45,000 Indian villages lacking 4G connectivity and ongoing efforts to build out 5G networks, the Indian government has set its sights on 6G.
• Recently, PM Modi unveiled the Bharat 6G Vision Document, aimed at gearing up policymakers and the industry for the next generation of telecommunications.

What is 6G?

• 6G is the next generation of wireless telecommunications technology, which is expected to offer significantly faster data speeds, higher bandwidth, and lower latency than 5G.
• It is still in the development stage, and its commercial rollout is not expected for several years.
• However, many countries, including India, are already working on developing 6G technology and setting standards for its implementation.

Differences between 6G and 5G

• While 6G will offer faster loading times, improved video quality, and faster downloads, like every new generation of technology, it is unclear how much better it will be.
• With latency already at the speed of light on existing networks, the benefits of 6G will depend on how different groups plan to use the spectrum.
• Satellite constellations will join telecom towers and base stations, integrating networks and extending them to rural areas.

Motivations for pursuing 6G

• Encourage local industry: The Indian government hopes to encourage local manufacturing of telecom gear and support Indian companies and engineers in international discussions around standardization.
• Avoid delay unlike 5G: India aims to avoid the delay in previous generations of telecommunications technology, which started rolling out in India years after countries like South Korea and the United States.
• Increased connectivity: Additionally, the lower frequency in 4G networks may not be able to keep up with the demand for traffic with increasing data usage, making 6G a necessity.

Government Plans for 6G

• The Indian government plans to financially support “research pathways” to advance connectivity goals and establish an “apex body”.

India’s 6G goals include-

• Guaranteeing every citizen a minimum bandwidth of 100Mbps
• Ensuring every gram panchayat has half TB (terabyte) per second of connectivity, and
• Providing over 50 million internet hotspots with thirteen per square kilometre.

Roadmap for 6G in India

• The government plans to implement 6G in two phases.
• Phase 1 will support explorative ideas, risky pathways, and proof-of-concept tests.
• Phase 2 will support ideas and concepts that show promise for global acceptance, leading to commercialisation.

Approaches to 6G in Other Countries

• South Korea plans significant investments in 6G technology development, with a focus on laying the ground for key original technologies and domestic production of core equipment and components.
• Countries are also starting to work together, with Japan and Germany planning a workshop to work on everything from “fundamental technologies to demonstrations.”
• Europe’s equivalent of the Indian 6G Vision Document emphasizes leadership in strategic areas and establishing secure and trusted access to key technologies.