The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the Ministry of Communications, has recently introduced the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA). This venture aims to stimulate innovation and leadership in 6G technology, the next frontier of wireless communication. Alongside this initiative, two agreements for projects have been signed under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF), securing a total fund of 240.51 crores.
The B6GA serves as a collaborative platform, bringing together public and private companies, academia, research institutions, and standards development organizations. It intends to facilitate international collaboration and knowledge exchange by building partnerships with other global 6G alliances. Its main goals are to understand the business and societal needs of 6G technology, foster consensus, and stimulate high-impact research and development initiatives.
Role of B6GA in India’s Technological Revolution
The role of BNGA is pivotal for India. It can position the country as a leader in the development and adoption of 6G technology. This scenario can have significant repercussions on the economy, society, and environment. It also provides an opportunity for India to leverage its strengths in software, hardware, and manufacturing sectors, along with its large talent pool and market potential.
Exploring the Potential of 6G Technology
As the successor to 5G technology, 6G is projected to offer speeds up to 100 times faster, and bring ultra-low latency, high reliability, and massive connectivity. It also promises to usher in new applications and services such as holographic communication, brain-computer interfaces, quantum internet, and artificial intelligence.
The term ‘holographic communication’ refers to the real-time transmission and reception of 3D holographic images. In contrast, ‘brain-computer interface’ refers to a future technology that will enable individuals to control computers and devices using only their thoughts. Interestingly, 6G technology intends to use the terahertz band of frequency, which is currently unutilized. This band of frequency exists between infrared waves and microwaves on the electromagnetic spectrum.
The Evolution of India’s Telecom Sector
India, being the world’s second-largest telecommunications market, has shown considerable growth in recent years. Notable developments include a significant reduction in data costs, improvements in regulatory processes, and an expansion of BTS sites. Furthermore, increased foreign direct investment in the telecom sector and streamlined allocation of spectrum to Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have further boosted the sector.
The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme
Launched by DoT/ Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) in 2022, TTDF Scheme aims to fund research and development of technologies, products, and services. 5% of annual collections from USOF will be available for the TTDF Scheme. It seeks to bridge the digital divide by developing and manufacturing state-of-the-art technologies. It also encourages synergy among academia, start-ups, research institutes, and the industry to build and develop the telecom ecosystem.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
To illustrate the shifts in India’s digital landscape, here’s a previous year question from UPSC Civil Services Examination:
“Which of the following is/are the aims/aims of the “Digital India” Plan of the Government of India? (2018)
Formation of India’s own Internet companies like China did.
Establish a policy framework to encourage overseas multinational corporations that collect Big Data to build their large data centers within our national geographical boundaries.
Connect many of our villages to the Internet and bring Wi-Fi to many of our schools, public places and major tourist centers.”
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
(Source: PIB)