In a significant leap toward future-ready communication systems, India today unveiled its first indigenous 6G testbed, developed by a consortium of IITs and research institutes under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
The project, dubbed “Bharat 6G Vision Lab”, is aimed at enabling researchers and telecom companies to test ultra-high-speed, low-latency wireless technology within Indian conditions before global rollout.
“This is a proud moment for India. With this testbed, we are not just catching up but aiming to lead the 6G revolution,” said Union Minister for IT and Communications, Ashwini Vaishnaw at the launch event.
Key features of the 6G testbed:
-
Speeds up to 100 Gbps, 100x faster than 5G
-
AI-based network optimization tools
-
Satellite and terrestrial integration
-
Smart city & IoT simulations
-
Rural and urban testing modules
India is one of the first developing countries to take an active role in 6G standard-setting, with plans to begin limited field trials in late 2026 and commercial rollout by 2030.
Industry leaders like Jio, Airtel, and ISRO are closely collaborating on this initiative, while Startups and academia will also have open access to the platform.
Experts believe this move will reduce dependence on foreign telecom infrastructure and boost India’s position in global tech diplomacy.
