India’s 5G user base has reached 550 million, while the Bharat 6G Alliance has developed 7,700 patents, including 4,400 international patents
India is targeting a massive expansion in 5G adoption over the next four years and is simultaneously positioning itself to become a global leader in 6G technology, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, Scindia said India's 5G user base has already reached around 550 million and the government aims to increase that figure to one billion by 2030.
The minister said India had moved rapidly from being a late entrant in 4G to becoming one of the fastest adopters of 5G, and the country now intends to establish a leadership position in the next generation of wireless technology.
550 Million Users Already on 5G
India's 5G adoption has accelerated rapidly since commercial services were launched, with telecom operators expanding networks across cities, towns and increasingly rural areas.
Scindia said around 550 million users are currently using 5G services in India.
The government now wants to nearly double this user base to one billion by 2030. Achieving the target will require continued network expansion, affordable devices, competitive data pricing and wider availability of 5G-compatible smartphones.
The rapid growth in 5G usage could also create opportunities beyond conventional mobile connectivity, including industrial automation, smart infrastructure, connected vehicles, healthcare technology and enterprise applications.
India Wants to Move From 5G Adoption to 6G Leadership
While 5G represents a major achievement in India's telecom journey, the government is already focusing on the next generation of wireless technology.
Scindia said India was behind other countries during the 4G era but had managed to move alongside the rest of the world during the 5G rollout.
The government now wants India to take a leadership role in 6G.
The minister described this as a strategic national objective rather than simply another technology upgrade.
Bharat 6G Alliance Builds Patent Base
The Bharat 6G Alliance has become an important part of India's effort to develop indigenous capabilities in next-generation communications.
According to Scindia, the alliance currently involves 90 institutions and has established 7,700 patents, including 4,400 international patents.
The growing patent portfolio indicates increasing participation from Indian institutions and companies in the development of technologies that could eventually form part of global 6G standards and products.
Building intellectual property will be particularly important if India wants to move beyond being a large telecom market and become a technology developer and exporter.
From Telecom Consumer to Technology Creator
India has traditionally been one of the world's largest markets for telecommunications services, but much of the underlying technology and network equipment has historically been sourced from international companies.
The government's 6G strategy aims to change that equation by encouraging domestic research, intellectual property development, standardisation and technology manufacturing.
A stronger domestic technology ecosystem could reduce dependence on imported telecom equipment while creating opportunities for Indian companies in global markets.
6G Could Open New Industrial Opportunities
The next generation of wireless connectivity is expected to go well beyond faster smartphone internet.
6G could enable highly connected industrial systems, advanced robotics, autonomous technologies, immersive digital experiences, intelligent transportation and large-scale machine-to-machine communication.
For India, such applications could complement the country's manufacturing, electronics, defence, automotive and digital infrastructure ambitions.
The combination of 6G networks with artificial intelligence, cloud computing, edge computing and connected devices could create an entirely new layer of digital infrastructure.
Telecom Infrastructure Will Need to Expand
Reaching one billion 5G users by 2030 will require significant investment in network infrastructure.
Telecom operators will need to continue expanding base stations, fibre networks, data infrastructure and backhaul capacity.
The growth of 5G will also increase demand for spectrum, telecom equipment, optical fibre, semiconductor components, network software and data centres.
This could create a broader investment opportunity across India's digital infrastructure ecosystem.
Domestic Manufacturing Could Benefit
The government's telecom ambitions also align with India's broader push to expand electronics and technology manufacturing.
A growing domestic market for 5G and future 6G equipment can provide manufacturers with scale while encouraging companies to develop products for international markets.
India's efforts to strengthen telecom equipment manufacturing, semiconductor capabilities and electronics supply chains could therefore become increasingly important as network technology evolves.
Patent Development Could Strengthen India’s Global Position
The 7,700 patents associated with the Bharat 6G Alliance represent an important step towards building India's intellectual-property base.
International patents are particularly valuable because they can support commercialisation beyond the domestic market and potentially generate licensing opportunities.
However, patents alone will not guarantee global leadership. India will also need to convert research into commercially viable products, participate effectively in international standard-setting and build companies capable of competing globally.
6G Race Is Becoming Increasingly Strategic
The race for 6G leadership is expected to have implications beyond telecommunications.
Countries that develop key technologies and standards could gain advantages in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous systems, defence communications and advanced manufacturing.
India's decision to invest early in 6G research reflects the strategic importance of controlling parts of the technology stack rather than relying entirely on foreign suppliers.
India Mobile Congress Provides Global Platform
The India Mobile Congress has increasingly become an important platform for showcasing India's telecom and digital capabilities.
The 2026 edition provides an opportunity for telecom operators, equipment manufacturers, technology companies, startups, policymakers and researchers to discuss the next phase of connectivity.
The event also comes at a time when India's telecom ecosystem is expanding beyond traditional voice and data services towards enterprise connectivity, cloud infrastructure and emerging technologies.
Market Outlook
India's target of one billion 5G users by 2030 highlights the scale of the country's next phase of digital infrastructure expansion. The growth in 5G adoption could support investment across telecom networks, fibre, data centres, electronics manufacturing, semiconductors and network equipment.
The bigger opportunity, however, lies in India's ambition to become a 6G technology leader. The Bharat 6G Alliance's 7,700 patents, including 4,400 international patents, provide an early foundation, but converting intellectual property into globally competitive products and standards will be the key challenge.
For investors, the long-term theme extends well beyond telecom operators. Companies exposed to digital infrastructure, electronics manufacturing, optical fibre, semiconductor ecosystems, telecom equipment and data centres could potentially benefit as India's connectivity ambitions expand.
India's journey from lagging in 4G to rapidly adopting 5G has already demonstrated the country's ability to scale new technologies. The government's next objective is considerably more ambitious: to ensure that India is not merely a large consumer of 6G technology, but one of the countries shaping its global future.