Bharat 6G Alliance: India’s Spectrum Roadmap

Source: PIB
GS III: Science & Technology

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Bharat 6G Alliance
3. Spectrum Roadmap for 6G in India

Why in the News?

The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) has expanded to 90 members, strengthening India’s 6G innovation ecosystem.

News in Brief

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released the Spectrum Roadmap for 6G after stakeholder consultations.
• A 6G Terahertz Testbed has been approved under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF).
• India is actively shaping global 6G (IMT-2030) standards through participation in international standard-setting bodies.

Bharat 6G Alliance

About

• The Bharat 6G Alliance is a collaborative, industry-led and academia-driven platform launched in July 2023 to design, develop, and deploy next-generation wireless technologies.
• Brings together telecom operators, equipment manufacturers, startups, research institutions, academia, and government stakeholders.

Key Features

• It has grown to 90 member organizations and operates under seven core working groups to position India as a global leader in telecommunications by 2030.
• Partnered via international memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with bodies like the NextG Alliance (USA), 6G IA (Europe), and the European Space Agency.

Objectives

• Aims to contribute roughly 10% of all global 6G patents, having already advanced thousands of preliminary contributions.
• Strengthens India’s 6G ecosystem by promoting indigenous research, innovation, intellectual property (IPR), technology development, and advanced testbeds.
• Focuses on creating secure, affordable, and trusted communication technologies to bridge digital divides globally.

Spectrum Roadmap for 6G in India

• Provides a phased strategy for short-, medium-, and long-term spectrum planning, including regulatory sandboxes and early 6G trials.
• A 6G Terahertz Testbed (3 year project) has been established under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) of Digital Bharat Nidhi at SAMEER (Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research), Kolkata, in collaboration with IIT Madras, IIT Guwahati, and IIT Patna.
• Aligns with the ITU’s IMT-2030 (6G) framework and supports India’s active participation in international standard-setting, including recognition of “ubiquitous connectivity” as a key 6G usage scenario.
• To strengthen India’s global leadership in 6G, the Government is also supporting active participation of Indian stakeholders in international standardisation bodies.
  • Such as 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), ITU and oneM2M through initiatives under the Department of Telecommunications’ Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) scheme.

Conclusion

The Bharat 6G Alliance and the Spectrum Roadmap lay the foundation for India’s transition from a technology adopter to a global leader in 6G innovation.

Sustained investment in research, standardisation, spectrum planning, and indigenous innovation will be crucial to achieving the Bharat 6G Vision and building a secure, inclusive, and future-ready digital ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding the Bharat 6G Alliance:

1. It is an industry- and academia-led collaborative platform supporting India’s 6G Vision.
2. It functions under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
3. It promotes indigenous research, innovation, and intellectual property creation in 6G technologies.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 3 only

Answer: (a)

Mains Practice Question

Q. “India’s success in the 6G era will depend not only on technology adoption but also on leadership in research, spectrum management, and global standardisation.” Discuss. (15 Marks)

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