Bharat 6G Alliance and Spectrum Roadmap for 6G in India

Key Highlights:

• The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) expanded to 90 members by July 15, 2026, representing diverse telecom stakeholders.
• B6GA has established seven working groups covering key domains like 6G technologies, spectrum, and applications.
• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) released the Spectrum Roadmap for 6G services after consulting with stakeholders, including B6GA.
• A three-year project for a 6G Terahertz testbed was approved under the Telecom Technology Development Fund at SAMEER, Kolkata, in collaboration with IIT Madras, Guwahati, and Patna.
• India contributed to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) IMT 2030 framework for 6G, advocating "ubiquitous connectivity" as a usage scenario.

Detailed Insights:

• B6GA serves as a collaborative platform to strengthen domestic research, innovation, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the 6G ecosystem.
• The Spectrum Roadmap for 6G in India was initially submitted by B6GA's dedicated spectrum working group.
• The 6G Terahertz testbed project, funded by Digital Bharat Nidhi, aims to advance India's capabilities in high data rate communication.
• India's contribution to the ITU IMT 2030 framework also highlighted coverage, interoperability, and sustainability as crucial 6G capabilities.
• The government supports Indian stakeholders' participation in international standardization bodies like 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and oneM2M.
• This support is provided through the Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) scheme, which offers financial assistance for membership and participation to eligible startups and MSMEs.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA): An industry and academia-led society fostering 6G research, innovation, and IPR development in India.
• Spectrum Roadmap for 6G: A strategic plan outlining the allocation and utilization of radio frequencies for future 6G services in India.
• Telecom Technology Development Fund: A fund under Digital Bharat Nidhi supporting research and development in advanced telecom technologies.
• International Telecommunications Union (ITU): A specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for global telecommunication standards and regulations.
• IMT 2030 framework: The ITU's vision and framework defining the technical requirements and usage scenarios for 6G mobile technologies.