Bharat 6G Alliance Expands Membership to Drive Next-Gen Telecom

Bharat 6G Alliance Expands Membership to Drive Next-Gen Telecom

#GS-3 #Science & Technology #ICT #Economy #Infrastructure #Current Events #National

Why in News

  • The Minister of State for Communications announced that the **Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA)** has expanded its membership to **90** organizations.

About Bharat 6G Alliance

  • The **Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA)** is a collaborative platform led by industry and supported by the government to establish India as a global leader in 6G technology.
  • It brings together domestic and international experts to drive research, generate patents, and set technical standards for future telecom networks.

Nodal Support and Global Partners

  • The **Department of Telecommunications (DoT)** under the **Ministry of Communications** provides official facilitation and support for this alliance.
  • The organization works through bilateral agreements with major global bodies such as the **NextG Alliance (USA)**, **6G-IA (Europe)**, **6G Forum (South Korea)**, **XGMF (Japan)**, **6G Brasil**, and the **European Space Agency (ESA)**.

Objectives of the Alliance

  • The primary goal is to promote local research and development to build a self-reliant and globally competitive 6G system.
  • It ensures that India's manufacturing capabilities, technology goals, and patent priorities are included in global 6G guidelines.

Key Functions of the Alliance

  • **Formulating Spectrum Roadmaps:** It studies high-frequency radio waves and advises the **Department of Telecommunications** on policy, allocation plans, and rollout schedules.
  • **Advancing R&D and Testbeds:** It manages multi-institutional projects under the **Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF)**, including a **6G Terahertz testbed** at **SAMEER Kolkata** for ultra-fast direct communication.
  • **Securing Global Standards:** It submits Indian technical contributions to the **International Telecommunication Union (ITU)** under the **IMT-2030 framework**, successfully making widespread network coverage a core global requirement.
  • **Supporting Hardware Startups:** It encourages research on advanced microchips, multi-chip modules, and smart devices using the **Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP)** scheme to sponsor startup participation in international bodies like **3GPP** and **oneM2M**.
  • **Building Resilient Supply Chains:** It partners with international hubs like Finland's **6G Flagship** to create secure supply chains and co-develop open 6G standards.

Significance of B6GA

  • The alliance allows India to shape global 6G rules at **ITU** and **3GPP**, shifting the country from a technology user to a global standards leader.
  • It connects **IIT** research with commercial industries to market local telecom products, strengthen cybersecurity, reduce foreign imports, and boost domestic manufacturing.