India has joined a US-led 6G initiative involving 25 countries, placing the country in a wider international effort to shape the security, standards and development of next-generation wireless networks.
The US Department of Commerce announced India’s inclusion in the partnership, which also includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and 21 other countries across Europe, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative is intended to coordinate national 6G strategies ahead of the technology’s expected rollout in the 2030s.
“Today, we are pleased to announce that India has joined the US and 24 other countries in the effort to ensure that next-generation networks reflect our shared security interests, strengthen our competitiveness, and drive innovation in 6G,” the department said in a post on X on Monday.
The announcement followed discussions between US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and India’s Minister of State for Commerce Jitin Prasada during the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, last week. The two officials discussed the future of 6G technology and the role of international cooperation in developing next-generation connectivity.
Prasada said India’s participation could influence the future direction of the global digital ecosystem. “India’s joint effort with the United States and 24 other countries to promote innovation and competition in 6G technology will give a new direction to the global digital landscape,” he said in a post on X.
The US initiative follows the launch of its “Call to Action for 6G Leadership and Security” in July. It is being led by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, an agency under the US Department of Commerce. The effort is aligned with objectives outlined in a December 2025 memorandum from US President Donald Trump titled “Winning the 6G Race”. The memorandum identified 6G networks as important to US national security, foreign policy and economic prosperity.
For India, the partnership builds on its own 6G roadmap. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released India’s 6G Vision document on March 22, 2023, setting a goal for the country to become a leading contributor to the design, development and deployment of 6G technology by 2030.
The coalition will allow India to participate in international discussions on 6G innovation, competition and security as governments begin establishing the policy and technology frameworks for networks expected to succeed 5G. The US Department of Commerce has not announced a specific implementation timetable for the partnership in the material available.
India’s inclusion comes as participating countries seek to align their approaches to future wireless infrastructure before 6G systems begin replacing existing 5G networks in the 2030s.
