IIT Hyderabad pioneers India’s 6G revolution

The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) is working to ensure that India is not just a user of the next generation of mobile technology, 6G, but a key player in shaping it, says Professor Kiran Kuchi, a leading telecommunications researcher at the institute.

Unlike 5G, which focused mainly on faster speeds, 6G will be much more than that. It promises seamless, high-speed connectivity everywhere - cities, villages, indoors, outdoors, on land, over oceans, and even in the sky. At the heart of 6G will be artificial intelligence, making networks smarter and more efficient.

IIT Hyderabad is already taking the lead in this journey. With support from government bodies, the institute has built 6G prototypes operating in the 7 GHz band (range of radio frequencies), developed advanced massive MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) antenna arrays, and created systems compatible with both low Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary (GEO) satellites. These developments showcase India’s capabilities in cutting-edge telecommunications technology.

“Every decade, a new generation of mobile technology comes along. 5G was standardized between 2010 and 2020. India started rolling it out in 2022 and is still expanding coverage. Work on 6G began in 2021, with global standards expected by 2029 and widespread rollout around 2030,” Professor Kuchi explained.

IIT Hyderabad has also designed an indigenous, low-power system-on-chip that supports both terrestrial and satellite communications for civilian and defense use. Efforts are underway to scale this technology into high-performance 6G-AI chipsets. Innovations from IIT Hyderabad are being nurtured into startups, contributing to global standards, and moving toward commercialization, ensuring that India’s technologies make a mark internationally.

6G is expected to transform daily life. It will power instant AR/VR experiences, AI-driven devices, autonomous vehicles, and intelligent IoT systems on a massive scale. From farms and factories to schools, hospitals, and disaster management, AI-powered 6G applications could make India more productive, inclusive, and secure.

“As global 6G standards emerge, India’s decade of research is beginning to show results. With the right policies and support, homegrown innovations in networks, devices, AI applications, and chip design will position India as a global leader, not just a consumer,” Professor Kuchi said.

By 2030, India aims to be ready with its own technologies, companies, and ecosystem for 6G, moving closer to the vision of a developed and self-reliant nation, Viksit Bharat 2047.