Indian Telecom Providers Anticipate 6G Commercial Launch by 2029-30

Indian Telecom Providers Anticipate 6G Commercial Launch by 2029-30

Although 5G is still being rolled out across India, telecom providers are already exploring the development of 6G technology. This upcoming network generation is anticipated to heavily rely on artificial intelligence (AI), with experts forecasting that AI algorithms will be integral in autonomously managing 6G networks. 

Sajan Paul, Managing Director and Country Manager for India & SAARC at Juniper Networks, noted that while new use cases are being explored in the 5G space, many telecom operators are still building their 5G infrastructure. He mentioned that although Airtel and Jio have made significant progress, other providers are catching up, and 5G deployment is ongoing. 

As 6G remains in the early stages of development, work on the frequency spectrum has begun, potentially marking the first time the spectrum extends from gigahertz to terahertz. Paul indicated that standardization is in progress, with commercial launches anticipated around 2029-30. 

Aim of Bharat 6G Alliance 

Recently, the Ministry of Communications announced that the Bharat 6G alliance has formed strategic partnerships with Europe’s 6G IA and the 6G Flagship program from Oulu University in Finland. These collaborations aim to advance innovations in 6G technology. 

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) aims to connect research and development (R&D) companies, academic institutions, and research organizations in both the EU and India. The focus is on synchronizing 6G research and development efforts, fostering joint research projects, piloting 6G technologies and applications, and contributing to global standardization initiatives. Bejoy Pankajakshan, EVP and Chief Technology and Strategy Officer at US-based Mavenir, mentioned that countries like India, the US, China, and Europe are all actively pursuing 6G initiatives, expecting significant economic benefits from the technology. 

Pankajakshan noted that while 5G was projected to boost the economy by trillions, 6G is expected to have an even greater impact, with AI playing a crucial role in the sector’s evolution. From a standardization perspective, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recently published the framework for 6G standards and radio interface technologies. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), responsible for defining these specifications, is expected to start work in 2025-26, with initial specifications likely to be released by 2028-29 and potential services launching around 2030. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Airtel Prioritizes 5G Expansion, Ends 4G Capacity Investments
5G/6G

Airtel Prioritizes 5G Expansion, Ends 4G Capacity Investments

Bharti Airtel’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Gopal Vittal, has confirmed that the company is no longer investing in expanding 4G capacity. Instead, its focus is now on scaling up 5G coverage and capacity. During the Q3 FY25 earnings call, Vittal stated that Airtel will continue deploying more 5G radios as the number of 5G-enabled […]

Read More
TRAI Recommends Auction of 5G mmWave Spectrum
5G/6G Regulatory

TRAI Recommends Auction of 5G mmWave Spectrum

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reiterated to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that spectrum bands including 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz should be put up for auction. Additionally, TRAI will initiate a consultation process to provide […]

Read More
Batelco and Ericsson Expand 4G & 5G Network Across Bahrain
5G/6G Worldwide Innovation

Batelco and Ericsson Expand 4G & 5G Network Across Bahrain

Batelco, a part of the Beyon Group, has partnered with Ericsson to expand its mobile broadband network, enhancing 5G and 4G capabilities across Bahrain. This expansion involves deploying Ericsson’s latest radio access network (RAN) solutions and upgrading Batelco’s Core network infrastructure to the latest network function virtualization infrastructure (NFVI) release. The modernization also includes capacity […]

Read More