India is moving to 6G tech soon. So, how is it different from 5G?
6G will offer ultra-low latency with speeds up to 1 terabit per second - which is 1,000 times more than the top speed of 5G. (Photo: Getty Images)
Six months after the 5G rollout in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (March 22) unveiled India's 6G vision document. He said that from being a mere consumer of telecom technology, India is now moving fast to become a big exporter of that technology.
"Within six months of the 5G rollout, today we are talking about 6G. This shows the confidence of India. Today we have brought the vision document to the fore. This will become a big base for the rollout of 6G," Modi said.
PM Modi, while unveiling the Bharat 6G vision document and announcing the 6G test bed said that "Today India is moving forward on the path of the digital revolution."
What is a 6G test bed?
A testbed in this case is like a platform where new technologies can be tried out before they are made available to the public. The 6G test bed will be used to test and validate new technologies and research advancements for 6G, which is the next generation of wireless communication technology.
It will provide academic institutions, industries, start-ups, MSMEs, etc a platform to test and validate the evolving ICT technologies. It will help in enabling an environment for innovation, capacity building, and faster technology adoption in the country.
आज का भारत, digital revolution के अगले कदम की तरफ तेजी से आगे बढ़ रहा है। pic.twitter.com/yZ7ow91pak
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 22, 2023
Differences between 5G and 6G
While the fifth-generation technology was said to be a gamechanger in terms of high-speed mobile internet and super-fast download speeds at almost about 10 times faster than 4G, 6G will offer ultra-low latency with speeds up to 1 terabit per second -- which is 1,000 times more than the top speed of 5G.
Here are some potential differences between 6G and 5G:
Speed: 6G is expected to offer data transfer speeds that are several times faster than 5G, potentially reaching up to 1 terabit per second.
Latency: 6G is expected to have even lower latency than 5G, which is already significantly faster than previous generations of wireless technology. This means that data will be transmitted with even less delay, which is particularly important for applications like real-time gaming, autonomous driving, and remote surgery.
Speaking at inauguration of ITU Area Office & Innovation Centre in Delhi. Initiatives like 6G Test Bed & 'Call Before You Dig' app are also being launched. https://t.co/z6hRdeTPbB
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 22, 2023
Spectral efficiency: 6G is expected to be more efficient in its use of radio frequency spectrum than 5G, which will allow for more devices to be connected simultaneously without causing network congestion.
Energy efficiency: 6G is expected to be more energy-efficient than 5G, which will help reduce the environmental impact of wireless communication.
New technologies: 6G is expected to incorporate new technologies such as terahertz waves and artificial intelligence, enabling new applications and use cases.
#IndiaITU4Innovation | #ITUAtIndia | #6GInIndi | Shri @narendramodi, Hon'ble Prime Minister, will launch "Bharat 6G Vision Document". India aspires to become a 'Pioneer & Global Leader' in #6GTechnologyRevolution, adhering to the ideologies of #JaiAnusandhan.@PMOIndia @pib_comm pic.twitter.com/CimAgkpFK7
— DoT India (@DoT_India) March 22, 2023
Telecom revolution in India?
PM Modi said that before 4G, India was only a user of telecom technology, but now India is moving fast to become a big exporter of telecom technology. He said that technology that has been successfully developed indigenously is getting attention from across the world.
"With 100 crore mobile phones, India is the most connected democracy of the world and the number of internet users has increased from 25 crore in 2014 to 85 crore now," the PM said.
In recent years, India has seen a rapid surge in number of internet users in rural areas. It shows the power of Digital India. pic.twitter.com/Dm5KVGZJIX
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 22, 2023
India's 5G spectrum auction value last year was almost double at Rs 77,815 crore worth 4G airwaves sold last year and triple of Rs 50,968.37 crore 3G auction in 2010.
India rolled out the 5G mobile technology at a great pace and the services have been expanded to 125 cities within 120 days of the launch.