Bharat 6G: Building India's Next-Gen Telecom Edge

India's 6G ambitions have picked up visible momentum through 2026:

  • Alliance growth: The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) — an industry-academia consortium — expanded to 90 members by mid-July 2026, spanning telecom operators, equipment makers, startups and research institutions.
  • Spectrum roadmap released: The Department of Telecommunications released India's official Spectrum Roadmap for 6G services in early 2026, based on recommendations from B6GA's dedicated spectrum working group.
  • R&D infrastructure: A three-year project under the Telecom Technology Development Fund has been approved to build a 6G Terahertz testbed at SAMEER, Kolkata, in partnership with IIT Madras, IIT Guwahati and IIT Patna — with a high-data-rate line-of-sight link already demonstrated at India Mobile Congress 2025.
  • Government messaging: Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has repeatedly framed 6G as central to India's push for global telecom leadership, alongside parallel milestones like crossing 560,000 5G base stations nationwide and approving 136 telecom R&D projects.
  • Global platform: The International Bharat 6G Symposium continues to serve as India's flagship event for showcasing this roadmap to global industry and policymakers.