India Targets 10% Global Share in 6G Standards While Nearing Complete 4G Coverage

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that India aims to achieve 10% of global 6G standards contributions and reach full 4G network coverage nationwide by June. The 6G initiative involves diverse organizations and emphasizes innovative technologies, while India's 5G adoption continues to rank second globally.

Union Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, has announced India's ambition to secure a 10% stake in global 6G standards. At the same time, the government is working toward achieving full 4G saturation across the nation by June. The minister detailed these goals during a discussion with ANI.

The standardization process, crucially facilitated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and 3GPP, will concentrate on AI-native networking, integrated sensing, and terahertz spectrum usage to support cutting-edge applications like holographic communication and digital twins. According to Scindia, seven verticals under Bharat 6G are tirelessly advancing technology, equipment, and policymaking endeavors, all subject to quarterly reviews.

Highlighting the progress of the 6G roadmap initiated as vision documents in 2022, Scindia noted the expansion from 12 to 1800 organizations involved, including leading IITs and tech enterprises. On 4G development, he emphasized that efforts are underway to connect the remaining 39,000 outlying villages, with 26,000 towers already installed and 5,000 more planned by June.

Reflecting on India's swift 5G adoption, Scindia noted that the country has risen to become the second-largest 5G subscriber base globally, trailing only China. He highlighted the rapid rollout since 2022, resulting in extensive coverage. By March 2025, the country's telecom service providers have set up 4.69 lakh Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs), further consolidating India's leading position in global digital transformation.

(With inputs from agencies.)