6G Network [UPSC Notes]

South Korea is planning to launch a sixth-generation (6 G) network service by 2028 under the K-Network 2030 plan. In this context, it is important to understand what is 6G, the difference between 6G and 5G and other details for the IAS exam science & technology segment.

6G Latest News

In March 2023, during the inauguration of the new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area Office and Innovation Centre, the Govt of India presented a vision document also known as Bharat 6G Vision document. The document describes a roadmap for the 6G rollout in upcoming years. The Technology Innovation Group on 6G (TIG-6G) has created this plan of action and roadmap to promote the development of 6G in India.

Under its K-Network 2030 plan, South Korea is planning to launch a sixth-generation (6 G) network service by 2028, two years ahead of its original schedule.

What is a 6G Network?

The sixth generation of wireless communication technology is referred to as 6G. The foundation for 6G has already been laid, even if 5G networks are only now starting to roll out.

India and 6G network:

• To be a leader in the field of 6G technology, the Government plans to promote domestic firms to produce substances, parts, and machinery for 6G technology within the country. Additionally, they aim to establish an open RAN or open radio access network that can function with any mobile device and is endorsed by mobile carriers and businesses.
• A hundred patents for 6G technology have been acquired by Indian scientists, engineers, and academicians, indicating a significant advancement in this area. Additionally, India is making significant strides in 5G technology, having achieved the world’s fastest network rollout.
• The government is examining a research and development initiative for the core of 6G technology that will require a budget of $481.7 million. The objective of the plan is to aid India in retaining its dominant position in the worldwide competition for upcoming network infrastructure, as the 5G networks race to meet the expanding demand for rapid wireless communication with minimal latency.

Indian Government’s Plans for 6G

• India wants to be a global leader in the innovation of 6G technology and achieve digital inclusion for the people of India.
• It is going to be far superior technology, having the potential to provide high-speed internet that is about 1,000 times faster than the 1 Gbps top speed of 5G. It also offers ultra-low latency.
• India plans to design, develop and deploy 6G network technologies by 2030.
• It plans to provide secure connectivity at an affordable cost for the masses.
• Plan for the first phase: from 2023-25 in the initial two years, India plans to develop standards for 6G technology, identification of the spectrum for 6G usage, and provide support for risky pathways, explorative ideas, and proof-of-concept tests.
• Plan for the second phase: from 2025-30, the government will be involved in creating implementational IPs and test beds, ultimately leading to commercialization and building a 6G ecosystem.
• To fund the research and innovation on 6G, it also created a fund of ₹10,000 cr to facilitate various funding instruments such as loans, grants, VC funds, fund of funds, etc. for the next 10 years.
• High-speed internet can help in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), machine-to-machine and human-to-machine interactions, mobile edge computing and other futuristic technologies.
• By 2030, the government expects spectrum requirements to double for 5G+ and 6G from current levels as India works to provide 100 Mbps connectivity to all people or achieve significant 5G coverage in the next seven years.
• The government has also set up a 22-member apex council comprising all stakeholders like Industry, Academia, Startups, standardization bodies, Telecom Service Providers, Ministries/Departments, and research and development institutions, to help in achieving the objectives.
  • The main focus of the council will be on new technologies such as radio interfaces, Terahertz communication, new encoding methods, tactile internet, artificial intelligence for connected intelligence, and waveforms chipsets for 6G devices.
• In addition to this, a 6G research and development test bed alongside a ‘Call before u Dig’ app was also launched. The app is designed to prevent damage to assets for example optical fibre cables, caused by uncoordinated digging and excavation. This damage has led to an annual loss of approximately ₹3,000 crores for the country.
• An area office and innovation centre of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), was also inaugurated for ICTs (information and communication technologies). The area office will serve India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Nepal, Iran, the Maldives and Afghanistan enhancing coordination among nations.
• India is rapidly moving towards the next step of the digital revolution. India has the fastest 5G roll-out in the world as 5G services have been rolled out in more than 125 cities in just 120 days.
• Again India’s favourable policy environment is the reason for the rapid development. India has two key strengths – trust and scale.
• Telecom technology for India is not just a mode of power, but a mission to empower. It can be used effectively in Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile. 
• The Bharat 6G Vision Document and 6G Test Bed will provide an enabling environment for capacity building, innovation and faster technology adoption in the country.
• It is true that 6G promises growth, but it will simultaneously have to be balanced with sustainability since most 6 G-supporting communication devices will be battery-powered and can have a significant carbon footprint.

What is the difference between 5G and 6G?

1. Speed and latency: 6G is anticipated to provide 5G users with higher speeds and lower latency. While 6G is anticipated to reach rates of up to 1 Tbps, 5G can only deliver speeds of up to 20 Gbps. Additionally, 6G is anticipated to have substantially lower latency, which will result in almost instantaneous data transfer.
2. New technologies: The 6G network is anticipated to deliver innovations like holographic communication, improved artificial intelligence, and expanded reality (XR). Higher speeds and lower latency will be necessary for these technologies to operate properly. Real-time data transfer and smooth device communication would be made possible by this.
3. Energy efficiency: 6G is anticipated to be more energy-efficient than its forerunners, which will aid in lowering the technology’s carbon footprint.
4. Timeline: While 6G is anticipated to be commercially accessible by 2030, 5G is still being deployed globally. However, technology is already the subject of research and development.

Know more about 5G in the linked article.

Possible Uses of 6G:

There is a plethora of industries that 6G could change as a result of its possible applications. The following are some of the more intriguing prospects:

1. Telemedicine: The low latency and improved dependability of 6G allow real-time communication between patients and doctors, enabling remote diagnosis and operations.
2. Smart cities: With the advent of 6G, cities may become more interconnected than ever, enabling real-time monitoring and control of everything from traffic to energy use.
3. Self-driven cars, remote-controlled factories, smart wearables taking inputs directly from human senses, etc. are some of the applications that can be game changers in human life. 
4. It can play an important role in Industrial Revolution 4.0. The government also intends to make India a leading supplier of advanced telecom technologies and solutions.

Difficulties in creating 6G:

1. The physical infrastructure needed to enable 6G networks is one of the primary challenges.
2. The advancement of the technology itself presents another difficulty. Although 6G research is currently underway, it will be years before the technology is standardized and widely used. To ensure that 6G networks are constructed and widely used, enormous investments will be needed from both the public and commercial sectors.

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