New 5G initiatives and 6G R&D focus possible in upcoming budget

The upcoming Union Budget is expected to introduce several initiatives aimed at accelerating the development of India’s 5G ecosystem and funding research and development for 6G technology, according to officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

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In the 2023 Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the establishment of 100 labs dedicated to developing 5G applications. In April, the DoT launched an experimental license module for these 100 5G labs during a workshop at IIT Madras. To date, around 1,500 experimental licenses for 5G labs have been granted.

This move is part of the DoT’s commitment to developing 5G use cases tailored to India’s specific needs. A DoT official highlighted the recently launched 5G Intelligent Village Program, which aims to leverage technology for the upliftment of rural communities. Similar initiatives are under discussion, aiming to ensure that India’s 5G rollout delivers tangible benefits, particularly in rural areas.