India joins US-led 6G initiative with 25 countries

India has become the latest country to join a US-led global partnership focused on developing secure and reliable 6G wireless networks. The initiative, which includes 25 countries, aims to coordinate national 6G strategies before the technology's anticipated rollout in the 2030s.

The US Department of Commerce announced India's inclusion in the partnership, stating that the participating nations seek to ensure that future wireless networks support security, competitiveness, and innovation. The partnership comes as countries worldwide intensify efforts to shape the technology, standards, and security framework for 6G networks.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and India's Minister of State for Commerce Jitin Prasada discussed the future of 6G technology during the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Prasada highlighted the partnership's potential to shape the global digital ecosystem, emphasizing India's role in driving innovation and competition in 6G technology.

The US launched its "Call to Action for 6G Leadership and Security" in July, backed by 24 other countries. The initiative is led by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under the US Department of Commerce and aims to advance objectives outlined in President Donald Trump's December 2025 Presidential Memorandum, which prioritizes 6G networks as crucial for US national security, foreign policy, and economic prosperity.

India's 6G plans target 2030, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiling India's 6G Vision document in March 2023. The vision seeks to position India as a key contributor to the design, development, and deployment of 6G technology by the decade's end. With India now part of the international effort, the country will engage in broader discussions on 6G innovation, competition, and security as governments prepare for the next phase of wireless connectivity.