Technology

India Joins US-Led Global 6G Alliance, Pushes Bharat 6G Mission and Tech Cooperation with Washington

By Swati Gandhi

India has formally joined a US-led international coalition of 25 countries aimed at guiding the development and deployment of next-generation 6G telecommunications networks, the US Commerce Department announced on Monday. The announcement followed a meeting between US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and India's Minister of State for Commerce, Jitin Prasada, held on the sidelines of the G20 Innovation Ministerial.

In a post on social media platform X, the US Commerce Department stated that Lutnick and Prasada discussed the future of 6G technology and confirmed that India has joined the United States and 24 other nations in an effort to ensure next-generation networks align with shared security interests, boost global competitiveness, and foster innovation in 6G.

India's participation builds on an earlier commitment made in July, when the country joined the Call to Action for 6G Leadership and Security, an initiative launched by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the US Commerce Department. Under this framework, member nations have agreed to strengthen cooperation on 6G development over the next year and beyond, focusing on network security, interoperability, system resilience, and the integration of trusted artificial intelligence in 6G infrastructure.

Alongside this global initiative, India continues to pursue its own 6G development goals through the Bharat 6G Mission. The program seeks to position India as a leading global hub for 6G intellectual property, technology products, and affordable telecom solutions, while expanding its influence in international standard-setting organizations.

Earlier this week, Prasada led an Indian delegation to the G20 Innovation Ministers' meeting, held September 1-2 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The event was jointly hosted by the US Department of Commerce and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Prasada was accompanied by Ajit Kumar, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), along with officials from MeitY, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, and representatives from the Indian Embassy in the US, according to MeitY.

At the conclusion of the ministerial meeting, G20 ministers issued a joint statement acknowledging that emerging technologies hold significant potential to drive prosperity, boost productivity, and expand opportunities globally.

During the summit, Prasada also held a series of bilateral meetings, including one with Lutnick, where the two discussed strengthening cooperation in semiconductors, data centers, and artificial intelligence. Prasada urged greater US investment in India's ISM2.0 initiative, called for enhanced collaboration on AI technologies, and proposed a framework for establishing safeguards in AI development.

Following the meeting, Prasada shared on X that discussions centered on advancing key sectors central to the digital economy. He wrote that semiconductors, AI, and data centers form the foundation of the emerging digital landscape, and that his talks with Lutnick focused on deepening cooperation in these areas and creating new technology-driven opportunities between India and the United States.

The visit underscores India's growing role in shaping global technology policy and reflects its continued efforts to build strategic international partnerships in the innovation and technology sectors.