Bharat 6G Vision Document

Context:

Recently, Prime Minister unveiled the Bharat 6G Vision Document, a starting point for policymakers and the industry to gear up for the next generation of telecommunication. This is happening even as over 45,000 villages lack 4G connectivity, and 5G networks are still being built out.

Relevance:

GS III: Science and Technology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Why did the government put out a 6G vision document?
2. The 6G Vision Document’s main characteristics
3. Potential advantages of the 6G rollout
4. Consumer advantages
5. Conclusion

Why did the government put out a 6G vision document?

• Accelerate wireless data consumption: The government wants to encourage local manufacturing of telecom gear and support Indian companies and engineers in international standardisation discussions to assume leadership in 6G.
• Avoid delay in 6G rollout: The delay in previous generations of telecommunication technology rolling out in India is a key motivation. The government wants to make sure it grabs 6G “from the oven” to avoid a repeat of this delay.
• Address physics: As newer generations of networks have higher frequencies, the lower frequencies in 4G networks may not physically keep up with the demand for traffic. To address this, the government aims to leverage higher frequencies for greater data usage.
• Financially support research: The government will financially support “research pathways” to advance connectivity goals, leveraging talent in academia and companies. An “apex body” will be set up to guide these groups through roadblocks.
• Achieve connectivity goals: The government aims to guarantee every citizen a minimum bandwidth of 100Mbps, ensure every gram panchayat has half a terabit per second of connectivity, and blanket the country with over 50 million internet hotspots, with thirteen per square kilometre.

The 6G Vision Document’s main characteristics

• The “Bharat 6G Vision” document, which the Prime Minister recently released, aims to create a national mission for 6G with a nine-year term from 2022 to 2031.
• The project will be funded in three stages: Phase I will cover the first four years, Phase II the next four years, and Phase III the final three years.
• The mission’s objective is to promote coordination and collaboration among various central and state government stakeholders, as well as those from business and academia, in order to advance basic and applied research for 6G technologies, leading to the creation of new intellectual property (IP), knowledge, and skill sets.
• Pilot scale demonstrations, validation of these technologies in real-world use cases, participation in and contribution to national and international standards are anticipated starting in 2025.
• Leadership Development in 6G:
• India has more than 127 patents on the 6G technology it is using to get ready for the next generation of telecommunications.
• India is involving all stakeholders, including business, academia, and service providers, to identify priority areas for research despite the fact that 5G is still only being deployed in a few locations.
• With a global focus on its telecom and digital industries, the nation is also arguing for a stronger role in current legislation at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Potential advantages of the 6G rollout

• Hyperconnectivity is anticipated to accompany the rollout of 6G and offer cutting-edge user experiences in all industries.
• It will make it possible to access necessary data, resources (both physical and digital), and social services without regard to time or place.
• The incorporation of AI/ML will play a significant role in industries like education, allowing students to engage in virtual visits and industry interactions to learn through immersive experiences.
• AI/ML will also be crucial in the fields of agriculture and medicine.
• Researchers are investigating quantum technologies to learn how they might offer previously unheard-of performance in quantum sensing, communication, security, and computing.
• These technologies will probably be used in the 6G rollout to provide advanced services.
• Non-terrestrial wireless networks are likely to be integrated with the terrestrial network to provide ubiquity coverage, not only on ships and aircraft but also in rural areas that the terrestrial network in India underserves, as a result of the decreasing cost-effectiveness of Low Earth Orbit satellites and new technologies like HAPS.

The Apex Council’s role in the implementation of 6G:

• The implementation of 6G will heavily rely on the Apex Council.
• Its goal is to bring together the government, business, telecom service providers (TSPs), academia, and research organisations to work together on innovation, standardization, pilot projects, global manufacturing, testing, and supply.
• The Apex Council will assess and approve 6G action plans and roadmaps to make sure that all parties collaborate to meet the mission’s goals.

Consumer advantages:

• 6G mobile communication technology’s hyper-connectivity and improved experience will enhance and make it possible to access necessary data, resources (both physical and digital), and social services without time restrictions.
• The widespread adoption of 6G technology will eliminate disparities in social and economic infrastructure between regions and provide alternatives to rural exodus and metro-driven urbanisation.
• The introduction of 6G will be crucial in bridging the digital divide between urban and rural communities and enhancing people’s lives.

Conclusion:

• After 5G, the deployment of 6G technology is anticipated to be the next significant advancement in telecom network technology.
• The government’s plans for a national mission to facilitate the coordination and interaction between various stakeholders in the Center and State governments, industry, and academia are outlined in the “Bharat 6G Vision” document, which was released by the Prime Minister.
• The introduction of 6G technology is anticipated to revolutionise how people interact with one another and technology, having an effect on economies around the world.
• Innovation and cooperation from all stakeholders, including the government, business, telecom providers, academia, and research institutions, are necessary for the successful implementation of 6G technology.

-Source: The Hindu