6G Technology Developments | Science & Technology for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Introduction

6G, the sixth generation of wireless communication technology, is the anticipated successor to 5G, promising transformative advancements in connectivity, speed, and applications. As of 2025, 6G is in the pre-standardization phase, with global research and development accelerating to meet an expected commercial rollout by 2030. For India, 6G aligns with the vision of Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, aiming to position the country as a global leader in telecommunications. 

Fundamentals of 6G Technology

6G aims to deliver ultra-high-speed, low-latency, and highly reliable networks, surpassing 5G’s capabilities. It integrates advanced technologies to support emerging applications like holographic communication, augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven systems.

• Core Principles: 6G leverages higher frequency bands, advanced modulation, and AI-native architectures to achieve data rates up to 1 terabit per second (Tbps), microsecond-level latency (1 µs), and seamless global connectivity. It emphasizes energy efficiency and interoperability with non-cellular networks like satellite and Wi-Fi.
• Key Features:
  • Ultra-High Speeds: Up to 1 Tbps, potentially 9,000 times faster than 5G’s average 100 Mbps, enabling near-instantaneous data transfer (e.g., downloading 20 movies per second).
  • Ultra-Low Latency: Targets 1 microsecond latency, 1,000 times faster than 5G’s 1 millisecond, critical for real-time applications like autonomous vehicles.
  • Ubiquitous Connectivity: Integrates terrestrial, satellite, and underwater networks for global coverage, including remote areas.
  • Energy Efficiency: Supports zero-energy devices powered by ambient sources like solar or kinetic energy, reducing environmental impact.
  • AI-Native Design: Embeds machine learning for self-optimizing networks, improving resource allocation and security.
• Advantages:
  • Enables futuristic applications like Industry 4.0, digital twins, and immersive virtual reality.
  • Enhances network capacity to support billions of IoT devices.
  • Reduces operational costs through automation and spectrum efficiency.
• Limitations:
  • High-frequency signals (e.g., terahertz) suffer from atmospheric absorption and limited range.
  • Requires massive infrastructure upgrades, including new antennas and power systems.
  • High development costs and regulatory challenges for global spectrum allocation.

Key Technologies Driving 6G

6G builds on a suite of advanced technologies to achieve its ambitious goals, many of which are under active research in 2025.

• Terahertz (THz) Communication:
  • Operates in the 100 GHz to 3 THz spectrum, offering vast bandwidth for ultra-high data rates.
  • Challenges: Signal attenuation by atmosphere and obstacles; requires advanced materials like niobium waveguides for efficient transmission.
  • Developments: In 2022, China’s Purple Mountain Laboratories achieved 206.25 Gbps in a lab environment. LG tested 6G THz transmission at 500 meters outdoors in 2023.
• Ultra-Massive MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output):
  • Uses thousands of antennas to enhance signal strength and capacity, reducing the need for widespread antenna deployment compared to 5G.
  • Challenges: High energy consumption and hardware complexity.
• Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (RIS):
  • Deploys smart surfaces to redirect signals around obstacles, improving coverage in urban areas.
  • Example: RIS trials in Japan (2024) enhanced signal penetration through buildings.
• AI and Machine Learning:
  • Enables self-optimizing networks that adapt to traffic patterns, mitigate interference, and enhance security.
  • Applications: Real-time resource allocation, threat detection, and network slicing for customized services.
• Visible Light Communication (VLC):
  • Uses LED light for data transmission, complementing radio frequencies in indoor settings.
  • Offers high-speed, secure communication but limited by line-of-sight requirements.
• Blockchain Technology:
  • Ensures secure, decentralized data management for IoT devices and spectrum sharing.
  • Example: Blockchain-based spectrum allocation tested in South Korea (2024).
• Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA):
  • Allows multiple users to share the same frequency band, improving spectrum efficiency.
  • Critical for supporting massive IoT deployments in 6G.
• Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM):
  • Uses vortex waves with spinning properties to carry more data. China transmitted 1 terabyte over 1 km in 2022 using OAM.
• Quantum Communication:
  • Leverages quantum entanglement for ultra-secure data transmission, explored in China’s 6G satellite tests (2020).

Global Developments in 6G (as of 2025)

The race for 6G leadership involves major powers, research institutions, and telecom giants, with significant progress in standardization and testing.

• United States:
  • The Next G Alliance, formed by AT&T, Verizon, and others, drives 6G standardization, targeting North American leadership by 2030.
  • 2025: US tested 6G prototypes achieving 100 Gbps in controlled environments.
• China:
  • Leads in 6G patents, holding 40% of global filings by 2025.
  • 2025: China Mobile launched a small-scale 6G test network with 10 sites, achieving 280 Gbps peak speeds, though not commercial.
  • 2020: Launched the world’s first 6G test satellite, exploring THz communication.
• Europe:
  • Hexa-X-II project designs a sustainable, inclusive 6G platform, focusing on human-centric connectivity.
  • 2025: UK’s University College London achieved 938 Gbps in a lab-built 6G network using 5–150 GHz frequencies.
• Japan and South Korea:
  • Japan: Nagoya University developed niobium waveguides for 100 GHz transmission in 2023.
  • South Korea: Invested $324.5 million in 6G R&D, with LG and SK Telecom testing THz and AI integration.
• Standardization:
  • The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) published the IMT-2030 framework in December 2023, defining 6G objectives.
  • 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) set a timeline: 2024–2026 for technical requirements, 2027–2028 for Release 21 specifications, and 2030 for commercial deployments.

India’s Initiatives in 6G

India is actively pursuing 6G to strengthen its global telecom standing, supported by government initiatives and industry collaboration.

• Bharat 6G Vision (2023):
  • Launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), it aims to make India a 6G leader by 2030.
  • Goals: Develop indigenous 6G technologies, secure 10% of global 6G patents, and contribute to ITU standards.
  • Budget: ₹12,000 crore allocated for R&D and testbeds by 2025.
• Key Developments in 2025:
  • The Bharat 6G Apex Council, chaired by DoT, reviewed progress in August 2025, aligning with global standardization cycles.
  • IIT Madras and IIT Hyderabad established 6G testbeds, testing THz and RIS technologies.
  • Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel collaborated on 6G prototypes, achieving 100 Gbps in lab trials.
• Strategic Role:
  • Enhances national security with secure, low-latency networks for defence applications (e.g., real-time drone control).
  • Supports Digital India by connecting rural areas, targeting 100% broadband coverage by 2030.
  • Boosts economic growth through Industry 4.0, smart agriculture, and healthcare innovations.
• Key Projects:
  • 6G Testbeds: DoT’s 10 test sites in 2025 focus on AI-driven network slicing and THz communication.
  • BharatNet Integration: Plans to incorporate 6G for ultra-fast rural connectivity by 2032.
  • Private Sector: Nokia and Ericsson partner with Indian firms for 6G hardware development.
• Challenges:
  • Limited R&D infrastructure; India has only 5% of global 6G research facilities.
  • Skill gap: Requires 50,000 telecom engineers by 2030.
  • Spectrum allocation disputes with defence agencies for 7–20 GHz bands.

Applications of 6G in Various Sectors

6G’s capabilities enable transformative applications across industries, with significant implications for India.

• Industry 4.0:
  • Enables smart factories with real-time machine-to-machine communication, improving productivity by 20%.
  • Example: Collaborative robots in manufacturing, tested in India’s automotive sector (2025).
• Healthcare:
  • Supports telesurgery with microsecond latency, trialed in AIIMS Delhi (2024).
  • AI-driven diagnostics via 6G networks for remote health monitoring in rural areas.
• Smart Cities:
  • Enhances traffic management, as seen in Bengaluru’s 5G trials, with 6G expected to reduce congestion by 25% by 2032.
  • Enables digital twins for urban planning, simulating infrastructure projects.
• Agriculture:
  • IoT sensors on 6G networks monitor soil and crops, boosting yields by 15% in pilot projects (Maharashtra, 2025).
  • Autonomous drones for precision farming, reducing pesticide use.
• Education and Entertainment:
  • Immersive AR/VR classrooms, expanding SWAYAM’s reach to 20 million learners by 2030.
  • Holographic gaming and communication, trialed by Jio in 2025.
• Defence and Security:
  • Real-time battlefield communication and drone coordination.
  • Secure quantum-6G integration for encrypted military networks, tested by DRDO (2025).

Ethical and Regulatory Issues

6G’s advanced capabilities raise ethical and regulatory challenges that must be addressed.

• Ethical Concerns:
  • Privacy: Massive data collection for AI-driven 6G networks risks surveillance, especially in smart cities.
  • Equity: Rural-urban digital divide may widen without affordable 6G access; only 40% of rural India has 5G in 2025.
  • Security: Vulnerability to cyberattacks, given 6G’s reliance on software-defined networks.
• Regulatory Challenges:
  • Spectrum Allocation: Global harmonization of 7–20 GHz and THz bands is contentious, with defence agencies claiming priority.
  • Standardization: Ensuring interoperability across countries to avoid network fragmentation.
  • Data Governance: Compliance with India’s DPDP Act (2023) for 6G data processing.
• Global Geopolitics: China’s patent dominance and bans on firms like Huawei raise risks of fragmented 6G standards, impacting India’s adoption.

Challenges in 6G Development

• Technical:
  • THz signal attenuation limits range, requiring dense antenna networks.
  • High energy consumption for ultra-massive MIMO systems.
  • Scalability of RIS and blockchain for billions of devices.
• Economic:
  • Estimated $1 trillion global investment needed for 6G infrastructure by 2030.
  • India’s R&D funding (₹12,000 crore) is modest compared to China’s $50 billion.
• Social:
  • Public resistance to 6G due to health concerns over high-frequency radiation.
  • Digital literacy gaps hinder adoption in rural areas.

Future Outlook

• Short-Term (2025–2030):
  • Completion of 3GPP Release 21 specifications by 2028, enabling initial deployments.
  • India to establish 50 6G testbeds and secure 5% of global patents by 2027.
  • Pilot projects in smart cities and healthcare by 2029.
• Long-Term (2030–2040):
  • Global 6G rollout, connecting 50 billion IoT devices.
  • India aims for 100% 6G coverage, integrating BharatNet for rural connectivity.
  • AI-native networks driving autonomous industries and governance systems.
• Global Implications:
  • 6G as a key technology for economic competitiveness and national security.
  • India’s leadership in 6G standards could influence the Global South.

As of 2025, 6G technology is poised to redefine connectivity with unprecedented speeds, low latency, and AI-driven efficiency. India’s Bharat 6G Vision, backed by testbeds and private sector innovation, positions it to compete globally, enhancing Digital India and national security. However, technical challenges like THz attenuation, ethical concerns over privacy, and the need for global spectrum harmonization require strategic focus.