Sekhar Pemmasani Calls for Deeper Industry Role to Shape 6G Future

Key Takeaways

• 5G deployed across India in just 22 months.
• Minister urges design‑led manufacturing and export‑grade testing.
• Industry urged to co‑develop 6G standards and AI‑driven networks.
• TRAI highlights need for spectrum enhancements and indoor connectivity.
• GSMA says 6G credibility hinges on industrial 5G applications.

Pulse Analysis

India’s telecom sector has become a cornerstone of the nation’s digital transformation, and the DigiCom Summit 2026 underscored that momentum. Over the past decade, policy reforms in spectrum allocation, right‑of‑way and regulatory certainty have enabled operators to launch 5G services at an unprecedented pace—covering the country in just 22 months. This rapid deployment has driven some of the world’s highest data consumption rates, positioning India as a testbed for high‑capacity, low‑latency applications and attracting global equipment vendors.

In his opening remarks, Minister Sekhar Pemmasani urged the industry to shift from pure deployment to design‑led manufacturing, calling for export‑grade testing facilities and joint ventures with global technology partners. By embedding AI, quantum communications and 6G research into the core of manufacturing, India can move up the value chain and influence international standards. Stakeholders such as TRAI, Vodafone Idea, Ericsson and the GSMA echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need for spectrum enhancements, indoor connectivity solutions and AI‑driven network automation to ensure resilience and trust.

The broader implication is clear: a coordinated push toward a secure, intelligent network will not only cement India’s leadership in 6G development but also unlock new revenue streams across finance, health, manufacturing and public services. Investors are watching closely as the government’s policy certainty and industry’s capital intensity converge, promising robust returns for firms that can deliver next‑generation infrastructure. As the digital divide narrows, the ecosystem’s ability to deliver inclusive, high‑quality connectivity will become a decisive factor in sustaining economic growth and global competitiveness.