Perspective- India’s 6G Vision | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended the nationwide implementation of 5G telecommunication networks and the advancement of the technology sector, citing them as pivotal for India's progression into a developed economy. During the India Mobile Congress, the Prime Minister lauded the country's advancements, emphasizing that India's momentum extended beyond the triumph of 5G and focused on ensuring its widespread accessibility. He highlighted that India's adoption of 5G technology propelled its global broadband speed ranking from 118th to 43rd. Additionally, he expressed optimism regarding India's leadership in embracing 6G technology, noting India's transformation from a mobile phone importer to the world's second-largest mobile manufacturer. He asserted that in the realm of digital technology, India stands on par with developed nations.

Benefits of 6G

• The vision for 6G is founded on the principles of Affordability, Sustainability, and Ubiquity. It promises to revolutionize the mobile experience by enabling consumers to swiftly download data-heavy content like 8K movies and high-quality games with improved graphics in mere seconds. However, upon the commercialization of 6G, users will need to transition to 6G-enabled devices from their current ones.
• Nevertheless, the primary utility of this technology is expected to extend beyond serving personal mobile devices. According to a government panel on 6G, the technology will inaugurate wireless technology usage across entirely new sectors of the economy, spanning industrial, commercial, educational, healthcare, agricultural, financial, and social realms.
• The report also emphasizes that despite the integration of 6G into Indian networks, earlier generations of mobile technology (2G, 3G, and 4G) will persist in use for at least another decade or longer before their gradual phase-out.

Various Applications of 6G Network Across Fields

• 6G networks are poised to introduce sensor-embedded networks facilitating real-time data transfer across diverse sectors like manufacturing, consumer goods, and agriculture.
• In the realm of transportation infrastructure, 6G's implementation will enhance efficiency by enabling smart communication between vehicles and infrastructure, paving the way for innovations like autonomous vehicles.
• A crucial aspect of 6G technology lies in its low latency feature, which is paramount for mission-critical applications, ensuring nearly instantaneous data transmission with latencies of less than a millisecond.
• Utilizing new radio millimeter waves for transmission, 6G offers significantly higher bandwidth compared to LTE bands, allowing for the transmission of large volumes of data at incredibly high rates.
• Given its flexibility, availability of unused spectrum, and cost-effective deployment options, 6G stands as an ideal network for the Internet of Things (IoT), particularly for collecting, processing, and transmitting vast amounts of data from myriad devices and sensors.
• The healthcare industry is poised to benefit immensely from 6G, leveraging smart medical devices, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), advanced analytics, and high-definition medical imaging technologies.

Challenges in Adapting to 6G

• Issues in frequency allocation persist, as Indian operators possess significantly less spectrum compared to international counterparts, coupled with concerns over the high investment costs and uncertainties regarding return on investment for telecom companies.
• India lags in technological advancements, posing a challenge for seamless adoption.
• Challenges in network investment due to capital constraints in the Indian telecom sector need resolution.
• Limited availability of funds for investment, compounded by the burden of debt faced by several Indian operators, hampers the adoption of 6G technology.
• Regulatory restrictions, particularly in rapidly introducing new technology while prior investments haven't been recuperated, add complexity to the adoption process.
• Technical hurdles include designing a global IT architecture while accommodating localized technologies tailored for specific regional needs, presenting a significant challenge.

Way forward for India

• Aligning Digital India with 6G technology is crucial.
• Strengthening our cyber infrastructure is imperative.
• Providing incentives for the design and manufacturing of 6G technologies, products, and solutions within India.
• Allocation of funds and incentives for local technology and telecom firms to enhance their internal capacities, fostering the success of 6G technology in the country.
• Encouraging and supporting 6G startups that contribute to design and manufacturing capabilities.
• Encouraging the generation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) supporting indigenous designs.
• Encouraging the manufacture of 6G chipsets, which might necessitate significant investments.
• Establishing appropriate test-beds and technology platforms to empower the Indian technical ecosystem for a competitive edge in 6G.
• Expedited deployment of next-generation high-speed broadband infrastructure, aiming for 100% coverage of 10 Gbps in urban areas and 1 Gbps in rural areas.
• Optimizing coverage, reliability, and scalability while ensuring seamless mobile networks through unified management policies to maintain consistent standards.