- At a review of the BharatāÆ6G Alliance (B6GA) in Kanpur, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia reaffirmed Indiaās goal of generating at least 10% of global 6G patents. This commitment is backed by policy frameworks, increased R&D funding, and proactive spectrum allocation for testing and innovation.
- India is already among the top six countries globally in 6G-related patent filings. More than 111 research projects have received funding to the tune of ā¹300āā¹400āÆcrore
- The BharatāÆ6G Vision Document (released March 2023) and the B6GA serve as the strategic foundation, bringing together academia, industry, startups, and public institutions to drive Indiaās 6G ecosystem.
š Timelines, Governance & Strategy
- Although early targets mentioned achieving this 10% share by 2027, most official communications now point toward 2030 as the realistic endpoint for India’s contribution goal
- The Technology Innovation Group on 6G (TIGā6G) under DoT, alongside six thematic task forces, is mapping the technical and regulatory roadmapāincluding spectrum, standards, device ecosystems, and standard essential patents (SEPs)
š§© R&D Priorities & Patent Niches
- India aims to build 10 specificationādependent SEPs and drive at least one new radio technology originating from within. Areas of focus include AI/ML, nonāterrestrial networks (satellite/air/ground/ocean), quantum communications, postāquantum cryptography, energyāefficient protocols, and integrated AI services
- The telecom department is prioritizing collaboration with industry and academia to identify and own patent niches where India has strategic advantage
āļø Challenges & Criticisms
- Funding remains a key hurdle: despite ambition, Indiaās telecom R&D budget (~ā¹400āā¹1,100āÆcrore in FY25) is a fraction of the investments seen in China or the U.S., which devote 2ā3% of their GDP to innovation funding. Without substantial increases, the 10% patent goal may be hard to realize.
- Scaling innovation in hardware, device ecosystems, and telecom design remains a work in progressāIndia still trails in producing globally adopted telecom stacks, though its indigenous 4G stack is now live, and BSNL is deploying 100,000 such towers.
ā Summary Table
| Focus Area | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Patent Target | ā„10% of global 6G patents by ~2030 |
| Current Status | India is among top 6 patent filers; 111+ projects funded (~ā¹300cr) |
| Governance | B6GA & TIGā6G coordinating cross-sector efforts |
| Patent Focus Zones | AI, satellite/non-terrestrial, quantum, postāquantum cryptography, SEPs |
| Funding Gaps | Telecom R&D spending is modest relative to global peers |
| Risk | Ambitious goals need institutional capacity, more funding, global adoption |
š What to Monitor Next
- Rollout of Indiaābased 6G testbeds, pilot programs, and Aurora R&D centers.
- Patent applications and outcomes in AI-based wireless, non-terrestrial connectivity, and RIS/ML-driven protocols.
- Progress in Indiaās active participation at global standard bodies such as ITU and 3GPP, especially ahead of the next World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027
