New Delhi: India aims to secure at least 10% of global patents and standards in 6G technology, Union minister of state for communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said on Thursday, calling for greater domestic innovation and reduced dependence on imported telecom equipment.
Addressing a chief technology officers’ round table on “Shaping the Intelligent Infrastructure for 6G” on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress 2026, Pemmasani urged the industry to identify 10-20 critical network technologies currently imported and develop Indian alternatives.
He identified component manufacturing, chipsets, radios, routers and optical systems as key areas requiring domestic capabilities. He also called on telecom operators to set measurable annual and quarterly targets for contributions to global standards, standard-essential patents and university research.
“The last decade was Digital India. Our goal is to make the next decade an Intelligent India,” Pemmasani said.
Highlighting the country’s telecom progress, the minister said India had connected more than a billion people, extended 5G services to every district through nearly 5.6 lakh base transceiver stations and developed an indigenous 4G stack. The government is also implementing BharatNet and 4G saturation projects to expand high-speed connectivity to villages and homes.
Pemmasani said nearly 136 research and development projects worth around ₹500 crore had received funding under the Telecom Technology Development Fund. The projects cover 5G, 6G, quantum communications, non-terrestrial networks, advanced optical systems, indigenous telecom cores and network security.
He called for moving quantum communications beyond laboratories to real-world operator trials. These should include quantum-safe encryption for critical links and quantum key distribution where economically viable, he said.
The minister also stressed the need to transition from AI-assisted telecom networks to AI-native networks, while strengthening equipment security, supply-chain resilience, fraud prevention and protection of critical infrastructure.
Referring to regulatory reforms, Pemmasani said most rules under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, had been notified. The aim is to establish a simpler, technology-neutral framework suited to emerging technologies, he said.
He urged the government, telecom operators, equipment manufacturers and technology companies to work closely together and invited industry stakeholders to identify areas where policy changes and simpler regulations could support innovation.
India’s push for 6G leadership, alongside investments in research, domestic manufacturing and telecom security, is intended to strengthen its role in developing next-generation communications technologies.
