BharatNotes What is 6G Technology?
6G (sixth-generation) is the next planned phase of mobile communications after 5G, expected to be commercially available around 2030. It aims to move beyond faster connectivity towards an intelligent network that fuses communication, sensing and artificial intelligence. Global development is coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union's Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), which approved the framework Recommendation ITU-R M.2160 in June 2023, formally launching the IMT-2030 programme.
Key Features and Standards
The IMT-2030 framework rests on four overarching design principles: sustainability, ubiquitous intelligence, security/privacy/resilience, and connecting the unconnected. It defines six usage scenarios and 15 performance capabilities (numerical targets specified for nine of them, as per ITU-R M.2160-0, November 2023).
| Aspect | Detail (as of ITU-R M.2160, 2023) |
|---|---|
| Coordinating body | ITU-R (IMT-2030 framework) |
| Usage scenarios | Immersive Communication, Hyper-Reliable Low-Latency Communication, Massive Communication, plus new ones: Integrated Sensing & Communication (ISAC), Ubiquitous Connectivity, Integrated AI & Communication |
| Emerging tech trends | Native AI, ISAC, sub-terahertz (THz) transmission, extreme MIMO, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) |
| Expected rollout | Around 2030 |
The shift from 5G is qualitative: native AI baked into the network, sub-terahertz spectrum (the ITU-R published Report M.2541 on the feasibility of IMT in bands above 100 GHz in May 2024), and the network itself acting as a sensor.
India's 6G Push: Bharat 6G Vision
PM Narendra Modi released the Bharat 6G Vision document on 22 March 2023, built on the principles of Affordability, Sustainability and Ubiquity, with the goal of making India a frontline contributor to 6G by 2030. The mission is structured in two phases (Phase 1: 2023-2025; Phase 2: 2025-2030).
The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA), an industry-led body facilitated by the government, was launched on 3 July 2023 to bring together companies, academia and research bodies. It has signed MoUs with leading global alliances including the NextG Alliance (USA), 6G-IA (Europe), 6G Flagship (Finland) and others. Two 6G test bed projects — a 6G THz testbed and an advanced optical communication test bed — were sanctioned under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) with a grant of ₹240.51 crore.
Significance and Strategic Goals
India's 6G roadmap is tied to wider economic and strategic ambitions. India aims to capture roughly 10% of global 6G patents and to be a leading exporter of telecom technology, supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 visions. India played an active role in shaping the ITU's IMT-2030 framework — a marked change from being a technology importer in earlier generations.
UPSC Angle
For GS3, frame 6G as a case study in indigenisation of technology and India's transition from a follower to a standard-setter in global telecom. Link it to digital infrastructure, the digital divide (the "connecting the unconnected" principle), and economic growth. For prelims, retain the key facts: ITU-R M.2160 / IMT-2030 (June 2023), Bharat 6G Vision (22 March 2023), and the three Indian principles — Affordability, Sustainability, Ubiquity.
