India’s focus on 6G technology patents centers on radio and core components, with the government actively investing in indigenous capabilities, stated Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications, during a session in Rajya Sabha. The government is committed to leading the development of ultra high-speed wireless broadband technology, dedicating funds to research and development through initiatives like the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) and Digital Communication Innovation Square.
The TTDF, financed by 5% of annual collections from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), supports research on new technologies, products, and services. Under the TTDF, two test-bed proposals, a 6G THz test-bed and an advanced optical communications test bed, have been approved. Chauhan also highlighted the launch of the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA), an initiative fostering an ecosystem for research, design, development, and intellectual property rights around 6G technology. India, with its Bharat 6G vision document, has set the stage for 6G development, receiving international backing from the International Telecom Union (ITU) for its call for ubiquitous coverage with 6G.
The estimated timeline for commercial deployment of 6G wireless broadband technology in India is around 2030, with speeds potentially reaching 100 Gbps, making it 100 times faster than 5G. Responding to another query, Chauhan informed Rajya Sabha about the constitution of a standing committee for spectrum management by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in June 2023.
The committee’s mandate includes reviewing the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP), assessing the activities of the National Preparatory Committee (NPC) for World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), and providing recommendations on spectrum refarming, re-purposing, assignment/charging methodology, and policies for efficient spectrum management.
