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The sixth generation of wireless technology, or 6G technology, is poised to revolutionise the telecommunications landscape. Building on the foundation laid by its predecessors, 6G promises advancements in speed, bandwidth, and connectivity. Our report, ‘Exploring the 6G landscape in India’, explores the transformative impact of 6G technology on the telecommunications industry, highlighting advancements, examining use cases, and outlining key challenges that need to be addressed for successful deployment of 6G networks. It also underscores the potential of 6G technology in India to drive innovation, bridge digital divides, and foster economic growth.
India is emerging as a major player in 6G development, with the primary telecom operators in the country making initial investments in 6G networks. This is in addition to initiatives like the Bharat 6G Vision, which aims to establish India as a leader in 6G technology design, development, and deployment by 2030, and the establishment of the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA), a collaborative platform uniting industry stakeholders, academia, and international partners.
Notably, we have made significant strides in 6G research, with the government investing substantially in establishing a 6G test bed. This infrastructure supports start-ups, researchers, and industries, fostering innovation and growth. The Indian government aspires Indian firms to secure 10% of global 6G patents by 2030, through indigenisation of technology and protection of intellectual property rights.
At Grant Thornton Bharat, we believe that the emergence of 6G technology marks a paradigm shift in global connectivity, set to unlock unprecedented speeds, ultra-low latency, and massive capacity. Yet, we envision that the true transformative potential of 6G extends far beyond technological advancements, holding power to revolutionise societies and economies worldwide. As 6G continues to evolve and mature, it will catalyse a new wave of economic growth, fuelled by creating innovative job opportunities in burgeoning fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, telecommunications, and beyond. By harnessing the limitless possibilities of 6G, we envision a future where technological innovation converges with societal progress, empowering communities and shaping a brighter, more connected tomorrow.
Building on the foundation laid by its predecessors, 6G technology is designed to cater to a hyper-connected world. 6G capabilities will enable futuristic applications like real-time holographic communications, immersive extended reality, and seamless integration of billions of IoT devices.
The emergence of 6G marks a paradigm shift in telecommunications, delivering lightning-fast speeds and ultra-low latency. Secure by design, 6G will integrate quantum-resistant encryption to safeguard real-time applications in gaming, healthcare, and autonomous systems.
This breakthrough will democratise access to the internet, fostering economic growth, education, and healthcare advancements, while empowering IoT-driven innovation in smart cities, environmental sustainability, and industrial automation.
6G is expected to offer a theoretical maximum data rate of up to 1 tbps, and promises a latency close to one microsecond, which is 1,000 times lower than the millisecond latency of 5G.
6G is expected likely to leverage terahertz frequencies, offering significantly wider bandwidths than 5G.
6G will connect billions of IoT devices, empowering innovation in smart cities, industrial automation, and advanced healthcare solutions.
6G prioritises security, privacy, and sustainability, integrating cutting-edge measures, such as advanced encryption and secure protocols, to safeguard data.
There will also be a focus on renewable energy and sustainable materials to minimise environmental impact.
As the telecommunications industry progresses toward implementing 6G networks, the focus on sustainability has become increasingly important. Adopting energy-efficient architectures, renewable energy integration, and a focus on circular economy principles are crucial to creating environmentally friendly 6G networks.
The rollout of 6G will involve several significant challenges, primarily related to infrastructure costs, spectrum allocation, and ensuring interoperability between different networks and devices. Despite these challenges, 6G presents numerous opportunities for innovation and collaboration across various sectors. We foresee a future where integrating AI and machine learning with 6G networks will self optimise, providing more reliable services and seamless interoperability between various technologies.
In summary, the upcoming 6G technology is set to revolutionise the telecommunications industry with its speed, connectivity, and wide coverage. To ensure its success, integrating intelligence, improving security and privacy measures, and overcoming regulatory and infrastructural obstacles will be essential. As we progress towards an interconnected and technologically advanced future, 6G will play a key role in shaping our economy, society, and environment by offering new opportunities. Achieving the global harmonisation of security standards is essential for the success of 6G. International regulatory bodies must collaborate to establish unified security in cyberspace guidelines that ensure seamless interoperability and security across networks.