Cisco and NVIDIA Introduce AI‑Native 6G Wireless Stack, Redefining Cloud and Enterprise Infrastructure

Cisco and NVIDIA have announced a broad set of AI infrastructure innovations designed to accelerate adoption of artificial intelligence across cloud, enterprise, and telecom sectors. The collaboration brings together Cisco’s networking and security expertise with NVIDIA’s AI computing leadership, marking what executives described as the beginning of the “largest data center build‑out in history.”

Spectrum‑X Powered Switches

At the center of the announcement is the Cisco N9100 Series data center switch, the first NVIDIA partner‑developed switch built on NVIDIA Spectrum‑X Ethernet technology. The switch is designed to deliver high‑performance, low‑latency networking for AI workloads and will be available with both NX‑OS and SONiC operating models. Cisco said the platform will serve as a Cloud Partner‑compliant reference architecture, enabling neocloud and sovereign cloud providers to deploy AI infrastructure at scale.

Enterprise AI Security and Observability

Cisco also expanded its Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA, a framework that integrates compute, networking, security, and observability into enterprise AI deployments. The initiative aims to give organizations end‑to‑end visibility and protection as they scale AI workloads, particularly in regulated industries. New ecosystem partnerships were announced to strengthen monitoring and compliance capabilities.

Telecom and 6G Readiness

In a move aimed at telecom operators, Cisco and NVIDIA unveiled the industry’s first AI‑native wireless stack for 6G networks. The stack is designed to handle ultra‑low latency and massive device connectivity, preparing carriers for the surge in AI‑driven traffic expected over the next decade. Analysts said the development could redefine mobile networks by enabling real‑time AI services at the edge.

Strategic Context

Executives from both companies emphasized that the innovations are not standalone products but part of a joint reference architecture for next‑generation AI deployments. “We are entering a new era where AI workloads will reshape every industry,” said a Cisco spokesperson. “Our partnership with NVIDIA ensures customers have the flexibility, interoperability, and scalability to build AI infrastructure securely and globally.”

Why It Matters

• For Cloud Providers: A unified, NVIDIA‑compliant architecture accelerates AI adoption in sovereign and neocloud environments.
• For Enterprises: Enhanced security and observability ensure safer AI deployments.
• For Telecoms: The AI‑native 6G stack positions operators to deliver next‑generation services.

With these announcements, Cisco and NVIDIA are positioning themselves at the heart of the global AI infrastructure race, targeting the needs of hyperscalers, enterprises, and telecom operators alike.

Centre of Excellence Unveiled in Bengaluru, Anchoring AI, 5G, and Quantum Research

Union Minister of Communications and Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, on Thursday, inaugurated the VTU-VRIF-TCOE Hub and Spoke Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, a major milestone in India’s mission to accelerate innovation across emerging technologies.

The Centre is the result of a strategic collaboration between Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Visvesvaraya Research and Innovation Foundation (VRIF), and Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE) India, forming an academic-industrial powerhouse focused on future-forward domains including 5G/6G communications, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), quantum computing, and healthcare technologies.

“In the last 11 years, PM Modi has fundamentally redefined the role of government—from a regulator to a facilitator,” said Minister Scindia. “This Centre is a direct extension of that transformation.”

A Launchpad for Deep-Tech Innovation

The Bengaluru facility operates under a hub-and-spoke model, connecting 228 affiliated colleges and over 400,000 students through VTU’s academic network. The campus boasts over 1 lakh sq. ft. of infrastructure, equipped with cutting-edge R&D labs, collaborative spaces for startups, video conferencing rooms, and student-friendly amenities including daycare and cafeteria services.

Currently, the ecosystem hosts 20+ startups and engages 30+ academic institutions, supported by industry leaders like Keysight Technologies, QpiAI, and Televerge. Skill development programs are being steered by the Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) to align talent with industry needs.

Aligning with Bharat 6G Vision

The Centre’s focus on 6G innovation ties directly into India’s broader ambitions under the Bharat 6G Alliance, which aims to place the country at the forefront of global 6G development by 2030. Areas under active exploration include Indigenous Radio Access Networks (RAN), rural connectivity, and cross-sectoral applications of 6G in agriculture, healthcare, and sustainability.

Connectivity and Impact

Minister Scindia highlighted India's rapid digital transformation:

• Internet users have surged from 250 million to 974 million.
• Broadband subscribers now exceed 940 million.
• India boasts the world’s largest optical fiber network, spanning every village.

CoE Centre represents a paradigm shift in India's tech-driven policy framework, blending academic excellence with industrial agility. By serving as a crucible for deep-tech research, startup incubation, and nationwide skill development, it reinforces the government’s vision of "facilitation over regulation", setting the stage for India’s next decade of innovation.

India Calls on Cisco to Boost Digital Infrastructure, AI, and 6G Collaboration

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has urged Cisco to significantly expand its presence in India’s rapidly growing digital ecosystem, emphasizing the country’s pivotal role in shaping the global tech future.

• Participants: Scindia met with Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins and his leadership team in New Delhi.
• Focus Areas:
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 6G development
  • Cybersecurity enhancement
  • Inclusive digital growth, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities
  • Grassroots innovation to uplift the common man
• Strategic Vision: Scindia emphasized India’s emergence as a global innovation hub and invited Cisco to co-create solutions that empower communities and prepare future generations.

Cisco’s Growing India Footprint

• Cisco inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in Chennai in 2024, in partnership with Indian contract manufacturer Flex.
• The facility is expected to:
  • Generate $1.3 billion annually through exports and domestic production
  • Create 1,200 jobs
  • Produce advanced telecom equipment, contributing to India’s “AtmanirbharBharat” (self-reliant India) in tech

Broader Implications

Scindia’s outreach reflects India’s ambition to:

• Lead in next-gen technologies like 6G
• Build a secure, inclusive, and future-ready digital Bharat
• Attract global tech giants to invest deeper in its digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem.

IIT Hyderabad and WiSig Network’s 5G Innovations Attain Mainstream Paving the Way for 6G at 3GPP Meetings at Prague

• RAN #108, Prague (Jun 2025): Consortium backs India’s π/2-BPSK extension for stronger 5G coverage and to uplink-heavy apps (HD video, XR, on-device AI) while seeding 6G.
• From Lab to Global Standard: Developed at IIT Hyderabad in 2014 → National program → 3GPP 5G Rel-17 feature now used by operators and vendors worldwide.
• Team India + Global Allies: Led by Prof. Kiran Kuchi, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, with support from Qualcomm, Apple, Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, MediaTek, DOCOMO, AT&T, Reliance Jio, Thales, and others—backed by DoT, MeitY, DST, and TSDSI.
• Next Stop 6G: IITH & WiSig are already advancing OTFDM and Structural MIMO tech in the new 6G Study Item to power future networks and devices.

At 3GPP TSG RAN #108 in Prague, a global  consortium proposed extending India’s π/2-BPSK uplink waveform to further strengthen 5G coverage and unlock uplink-intensive services—such as high-definition video, immersive XR, and on-device AI—while paving the way for 6G.

Originating in 2014 at IIT Hyderabad as a single-institute effort, the waveform progressed into a national program with leading industry and academic partners, became a 3GPP Release 17 standard, and is now a mainstream 5G feature adopted by operators and vendors worldwide.

Prof. Kiran Kuchi, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, the driving force behind this success and founder of IIT Hyderabad spin-out WiSig Networks, remarked, “India’s coverage-enhancement technology—created with fellow Indian institutes and global collaborators including Qualcomm, Apple, Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, MediaTek, DOCOMO, AT&T, Reliance Jio, Thales, and others—has become an integral part of the global standard.”

We gratefully acknowledge the efforts of various organizations of Government of India, i.e. the Department of Telecommunications (DOT), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the Standards Development Organisation, Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI) for their steadfast support in this regard.

Prof. B S Murty, Director of IIT Hyderabad, added, “IIT Hyderabad is committed to breakthrough research in the field of Wireless Communications that translates into globally adopted patents and products, propelling India toward Viksit Bharat.”

As the 6G era dawns, IIT Hyderabad and WiSig Networks are already advancing technologies such as the OTFDM waveform and Structural MIMO within the newly approved 6G Study Item. Together with Indian and global partners, we will continue to imagine, invent, and deliver the next generation of communication technologies, networks, and devices.

About IIT Hyderabad:

IITH, established in 2008, has reached a respectable position in Academics, Research, Technology development and Startups in a short span of 16 years. In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), IITH has bagged at 3rd in Innovation and 8th among Engineering institutes in the last two consecutive years, while it has maintained its rank within top 10 Engineering Institutes ever since NIRF was launched. IITH has been striving for excellence with a motto of "Inventing & Innovating in Technology for Humanity (IITH)".

With 325 full-time Faculty and 5,300+ Students (PG+PhD students accounting for about 60%), IITH has a strong research focus with ~ 4630 Projects worth of Rs. 1510+ Cr of R&D funding (Rs. 335+ Cr funding in 2024-25, i.e., Rs. 1+ Cr per faculty), 11,680+ Publications, 2,15,000+ Citations, 510+ Patents (210+ Patents in 2024 and a commitment to “Patent a Day: Mission 365” for 2025 to earn 365 Patents by the end of 2025), and about 260+ Startups (that have generated 1100+ jobs with a revenue of Rs. 1500+ Cr).

About WiSig Networks Private Limited:

WiSig Networks, a Startup incubated at IITH, is a leading provider of wireless communications solutions, specialising in cutting-edge technologies such as Massive MIMO, 5G ORAN, NB-IoT SOC solutions, Open RAN and advanced 5G/6G technologies, played a crucial role in the integration and seamless operation of equipment throughout the trials. IIT Hyderabad's extensive indoor and outdoor facilities provided an optimal environment for comprehensive real-world wireless testing. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, WiSig is dedicated to shaping the future of Wireless connectivity. www.wisig.com

Japan's Sharp Semiconductor Innovation, IIT Hyderabad and WiSig Networks Successfully Demonstrated Advanced Beyond 5G and 6G Technologies

• The initiative represents a strong partnership between Japanese and Indian institutions, blending academic research, industrial innovation, and international cooperation to advance global 6G standards.
• SSIC exhibited its advanced SDR technology at MWC25 in Barcelona, reinforcing its role as a leader in future wireless communication platforms.
• The collaboration aims to expand in the year 2026 to support advanced applications such as Fixed Wireless Access, Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk, V2X autonomous navigation, and satellite-compatible NB-IoT smart metering.
• The trials validated the interoperability of SSIC’s customizable Software-Defined Radio (SDR) SoC User Equipment with WiSig’s Open RAN base stations, confirming high-performance wireless connectivity comparable to commercial 5G systems.

Sharp Semiconductor Innovation Corporation (SSIC), The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) and WiSig Networks Private Limited (Startup incubated at IITH), have announced the successful completion of ground-breaking field demonstrations for advanced Beyond 5G (B5G) and 6G technologies. This collaboration signifies a major advancement toward Japan and India’s shared vision of a digitally connected future.

The joint demonstrations, conducted at IITH Campus in Hyderabad, India, validated the performance and interoperability of SSIC’s flexible Software-Defined Radio (SDR) System-on-Chip (SoC) User Equipment (UE) and WiSig Networks’ Open RAN (O-RAN) base stations. The experiments showcased the compatibility and effectiveness of advanced communication terminals developed by Sharp Semiconductor Innovation Corporation in Japan.

Leveraging SSIC’s state-of-the-art ASUKA SDR-Box, equipped with a versatile communication SoC designed to support future communications protocols, the trials confirmed high-quality wireless connectivity and performance comparable to existing commercial 5G SoCs.

Prof. Kiran Kuchi, Department of Electrical Engineering, IITH & founder of WiSig Networks (Startup incubated at IITH) and a prominent contributor to 5G and 6G global standards including 3GPP, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: "This initiative bridges academic excellence, industrial innovation, and international collaboration efforts, reinforcing the global partnership of India and Japan in next generation Wireless communications."

Toyofumi Horikawa from SSIC, who is a technical leader of development of the customizable SDR SoC, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s outcomes: "The results from tests and experiments carried out at the IITH campus demonstrate the immense potential of customizable SDR SoC platforms in accelerating the development of future wireless technologies. SSIC also exhibited its advanced SDR technology at the Mobile World Congress (MWC25) in Barcelona. In 2026, we plan to further expand this collaboration for advanced communication protocol testing."

Prof. B S Murty, Director of IITH, remarked, "This partnership underscores our commitment to fostering international collaboration and driving innovation in wireless communication technologies, placing IITH at the forefront of technological breakthroughs."

The partners intend to deepen their collaborative efforts by focusing on advanced use cases such as Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk (MC-PTT), Autonomous navigation (V2X), and Smart metering applications leveraging NB-IoT technology compatible with Satellite communications.

This Indo-Japanese collaboration exemplifies the potential for international partnerships to shape global standards and drive innovation in next-generation Wireless communications.

India Pioneers Open-Source 5G & 6G Platform, Ushering a New Era in Telecom Innovation

India has launched a major initiative to develop a production-grade open-source platform for 5G, 5G Advanced (5G-A), and 6G networks.

This effort is backed by seed funding from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) and is led by IISc Bengaluru's Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID), IIT Delhi's Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).

The initiative is a unique approach compared to other countries, which have largely relied on proprietary solutions from major telecom vendors.

India is focusing on an open-source mobile network stack, fostering indigenous innovation and reducing reliance on proprietary solutions.

The initiative aims to create a fully open-source mobile network stack aligned with global standards such as 3GPP and Open RAN (O-RAN).

The project builds on the Indian Open-Source Platform for End-to-End 5G Network (IOS-5GN) and lays the foundation for the Indian Open-Source Platform for Mobile Communication Networks (IOS-MCN), a consortium aimed at fostering indigenous innovation across academia, industry, and startups.

A key milestone was achieved on January 31, 2025, when the consortium released IOS-MCN Agartala v0.1.0, which includes a 5G CORE, Open RAN-compliant radio access network software, and a service orchestration framework 12.

The system was successfully tested using Made-in-India ORAN-compliant radio units developed by VVDN and Lekha Wireless, achieving downlink speeds of 600-700 Mbps and latency under 10 milliseconds on commercial mobile devices.

This initiative is a significant step toward self-reliance in next-generation communication technologies, reducing reliance on proprietary solutions and fostering open, scalable, and resilient mobile communication networks.

With 961,000 base stations and 356 cities covered, China leads 5G innovation The country is heavily investing in 6G research.

India's open-source approach is distinct from the vendor-driven models seen in China, the US, and South Korea. While other nations focus on rapid deployment, India is prioritizing self-reliance, scalability, and innovation in mobile communication networks.

Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Cisco to Challenge Modi Govt's Decision to Auction Lower 6GHz Spectrum Band in Court

Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Cisco are considering legal action against the Indian government's decision to auction the lower 6GHz spectrum band for telecom services instead of delicensing it for broader WiFi and AI applications.

Key Points:

1. Auction Decision: The Indian government recently approved the auction of the lower 6GHz spectrum band for use by telecom operators to offer wireless telephony services using technologies like 5G and 6G.
2. Tech Companies' Stance: The tech giants argue that this decision could hinder India's technological growth and economic benefits, as the global trend is to delicense these airwaves for broader applications.
3. Broadband India Forum (BIF): The BIF, representing major tech firms, has been advocating for the delicensing of the 6GHz band, highlighting its importance for data-intensive applications such as AR/VR, gaming streaming, and artificial intelligence.
4. Global Practices: In many countries, including the US, the 6GHz spectrum has been delicensed, allowing non-telecom companies to operate in this band and offer services like WiFi-6.

The tech companies believe that the combined economic benefit of delicensing the 6GHz spectrum and the innovation it would foster would be much higher than the one-off revenue from an auction.

Indian Govt Investing ₹450 Cr in One of Nokia's Largest R&D Labs

Nokia is set to establish the world's largest fixed network testbed in Chennai. This initiative involves an investment of about ₹450 crore by the central government of India, and will be one of Nokia's largest research and development (R&D) laboratories. The testbed will focus on developing next-generation networks, including 10G, 25G, 50G, and 100G passive optical networks.

The deal will be signed in San Francisco on Friday morning in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (CM) M K Stalin, who is on a 17-day trip to the US to attract fresh investments.

This project is expected to create around 100 specialized jobs and will be located at the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu in Siruseri.

The testbed will facilitate the development of next-generation network technologies, such as 10G, 25G, 50G, and 100G passive optical networks. This can lead to advancements in network speed, reliability, and efficiency.

With an investment of ₹450 crore by India's Central Government, the project is expected to create around 100 specialized jobs, boosting local employment and contributing to the economic development of the region.

This development underscores Chennai's growing importance as a hub for technological innovation.

Several companies are investing in significant R&D facilities, similar to Nokia’s initiative in Chennai.

Microsoft has established multiple R&D centers in India, focusing on areas like AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. Intel has a major R&D presence in India, particularly in Bengaluru, where they work on semiconductor technology, AI, and IoT solutions. IBM’s R&D centers in India are involved in cutting-edge research in AI, quantum computing, and blockchain technology.

These investments highlight the growing importance of India as a hub for technological innovation and development.

Nokia, NTT, SKT and DOCOMO Team Up To Develop 6G AI-native Air Interface (AI-AI)

• AI is a critical 6G building block, with the potential to boost performance and minimize energy consumption in future 6G networks.
• SKT joins the existing 6G collaboration between Nokia, NTT and DOCOMO, expanding the scope and scale of its work on the 6G native air interface (AI-AI).
• At MWC 2024, an AI air interface (AI-AI) proof of concept video demonstration will be available at SKT’s booth.

Nokia, SK Telecom (“SKT”), NTT and DOCOMO, on Thursday last week, announced that they have joined forces to develop the 6G AI-native air interface (AI-AI), a critical next-generation technology that could greatly boost network performance while increasing energy efficiency. The four companies will show a video demonstration of an AI-AI proof of
concept at SKT’s booth at Mobile World Congress.

An AI-native air interface (AI-AI) is a dynamic interface that uses machine learning (ML) and AI (Artifical Intelligence) to define the air interface. It can adapt to different radio environments, data, applications, and Hardware.

This new 6G collaboration builds on an existing relationship between Nokia, NTT and DOCOMO targeted at 6G innovation. With the addition of SKT, the four companies will be able to expand the scope and scale of 6G AI-AI testing and validation as well as explore a broader range of business use cases for the technology.

Academics, leading research institutes, and key industry experts across the globe anticipate that a future 6G standard will use AI/ML for signal processing tasks, such as channel estimation, channel equalization, and demapping. This concept is understood as a neural receiver.

This collaboration is developing future proof-of-concept 6G AI-AI systems, which will then be put to the test using selected use cases and real environmental scenarios. These over-the-air validation tests will be conducted both in the lab and outdoors to best simulate real network results. SKT, NTT, DOCOMO and Nokia will cooperate on improving AI model performance by utilizing data generated from real networks or through simulation. This will be instrumental in developing AI training models for a best-in-industry AI-AI solution.

By working together Nokia, SKT, NTT and DOCOMO will be able to combine their research efforts and bring their core areas of expertise to the table. Nokia’s industrial research arm, Nokia Bell Labs, is a leader in 6G innovation, while SKT, NTT and DOCOMO are recognized worldwide for their successful adoption of every generation of networking and their ability to create new business value from advanced technologies.

Peter Vetter, President of Bell Labs Core Research at Nokia, said: “For Nokia to create a world-class 6G system, it’s critical we get input from the service providers that will one day deploy 6G. SKT, NTT and DOCOMO are among the most innovative service providers in the world, which gives us the perfect partners to design the networks of the future.”

Yu Takki, Vice President and Head of Infra Tech at SKT, said: “This milestone represents a significant step forward in collaborative efforts towards the development of 6G core technology involving technology leaders from Korea, Japan, Europe and the United States. SKT will maintain its momentum in its R&D efforts of applying AI technology to network infrastructure as we move forward to become a global AI company.”

Takaaki Sato, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at DOCOMO, said: “DOCOMO and NTT are delighted to advance this project with Nokia, a global vendor leading the world, and SKT, a mobile operator co-leading Asia. Through this collaboration, we will take the lead in innovative technology development and standardization of 6G, and focus on building a global ecosystem that includes future industries and technologies.”

Nokia Launches 6G Lab in India, To Collab with IISc /IITs for 6G Research

• The 6G Lab is milestone for Nokia in contributing to the ‘Bharat 6G Vision,’ which aims to position India as a key global contributor to the design, development and implementation of 6G technology; the project also highlights Nokia’s commitment to the Indian market.
• Nokia’s lab will be a platform for future collaboration for industry and academic stakeholders on 6G and facilitate the testing of new solutions while establishing their potential for commercialization.

Last week's Wednesday, Nokia announced that it has established a 6G Lab at its Global R&D center in Bengaluru, under 'Bharat 6G Vision,’ introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This first-of-its-kind project aims to accelerate the development of fundamental technologies and innovative use cases underpinned by 6G technology that will address the future needs of both industry and society.

The 6G Lab was inaugurated virtually by the Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics & IT, Government of India, Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw.

In addition, Nokia is in the process of building research collaborations with premier research institutes in India like IISc/IITs to further scale up the 6G research initiative in India. Late last month, the IIT Kanpur announced its partnership with US-based InterDigital, Inc. for a bilateral research to develop 6G enabling technologies that impact future wireless standards.

Nokia’s 6G lab supports the Government of India’s ‘Bharat 6G Vision', that envisions a key global role for India in the standardization, development, and implementation of 6G technology. The Lab will function as a platform for collaboration for industry stakeholders and facilitate the testing of innovative solutions while establishing their potential for commercialization.

The Lab includes a setup to research ‘Network as a Sensor’ technology that enables the network to sense objects, people and movement without the need for on-board sensors. In the 6G era, ’Network as a Sensor’ has been identified as a key enabling technology that supports the vision of bringing the digital and physical worlds together. Sensing will be fully integrated into the wireless network and operate simultaneously with communication services. This has the potential to enable people to see around corners, gather information about their surroundings and even interact with objects at a distance. The Lab will also provide an experimental platform for researching algorithms, privacy, and sustainable system design.

Nokia is a pioneer in 6G work and is engaged in several global projects and regional initiatives with industry peers, customers, academia, and research institutions. This work aims to form a common view and direction for 6G, including 6G Hexa-X and Hexa-X-II, the first and second phase of the European 6G Flagship. Nokia is also a founding member of the Next G Alliance which is helping to drive the 6G ecosystem in North America and coordinating the German Lighthouse project 6G ANNA.

The Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics & IT, Government of India, Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, said: “The inauguration of the Nokia 6G research lab in Bengaluru today is another step towards PM Narendra Modi’s vision of making India an innovation hub. Interesting use cases coming out of this lab will be related to transportation safety, health care and education which will be another big contribution in the entire Digital India suite.”

Nishant Batra, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer of Nokia, said: “Nokia is honored to contribute towards the realization of the Indian government’s ‘Bharat 6G vision’. We look forward to collaborating with key stakeholders to help India become a major player in 6G technology development and adoption; and take its place in the global arena as a leading developer and supplier of advanced telecom technologies and solutions.”

Nokia’s experts at its Bengaluru center will support India’s ambition to make notable contributions towards global 6G technology standards.

IIT Kanpur Enters Into 6G Research Partnership with US-based InterDigital Inc

• 6G research partnership includes Extreme MIMO advancements for future wireless networks
• These advancements are critical for enabling 6G networks to scale and meet increased bandwidth and coverage demands of advanced applications such as metaverse, holographic communications, and digital twins
• InterDigital maintains a long heritage of technology innovation and collaboration and recognizes India’s leadership and significance in the global 6G wireless research and standards ecosystem

The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK) has announced a bilateral research partnership to develop 6G enabling technologies that impact future wireless standards with InterDigital, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDCC), a mobile and video technology research and development company. As part of the partnership, InterDigital will sponsor research and innovation at IIT-K in advancing Extreme MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) systems to achieve higher spectrum efficiency and larger network coverage required for 6G network deployments. These advancements are critical for enabling 6G networks to scale and meet increased bandwidth and coverage demands of advanced applications such as metaverse, holographic communications, and digital twins.

Prof. S Ganesh, Officiating Director, IIT Kanpur said, "The partnership comes at an opportune moment when India has released the Bharat 6G Vision Document and has laid the foundation to becoming a world leader in 6G technology and has launched the 6G R&D Test Bed. The academia has a major role to play both in terms of advanced research leading to 6G standardization as well as developing technology components of the 6G."

This partnership is aligned with the growing collaboration between India and the United States around 6G research and standardization and follows a joint statement between the two countries at the recently-concluded G20 summit. The statement highlights the importance of joint research and development in 6G technologies and also acknowledges IIT Kanpur as a key collaborator.

“We are proud to formalize our partnership with IIT-K to explore and expand our expertise in the advanced technologies that will define our 6G future,” said Milind Kulkarni, VP and Head of Wireless Labs, InterDigital. “Collaboration adds fuel to our innovation and InterDigital’s commitment to collaborating with world-leading universities and institutions across India will positively impact our shared contributions to wireless standards bodies like 3GPP and TSDSI.”

InterDigital maintains a long heritage of technology innovation and collaboration and recognizes India’s leadership and significance in the global 6G wireless research and standards ecosystem. Most recently, India has displayed its influential contributions to global wireless evolution through the publication of the Bharat 6G Vision document, the launch of India’s 6G research and development test bed, and the visionary 6G standards being collaborated upon by Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDI) and other global standards organizations.

In addition to leading 6G road mapping efforts around the globe, InterDigital has a history of partnership in India spanning a decade, including collaborative research on cellular modem and IoT design centers. In 2021, InterDigital became a member of TSDSI to support the development of India’s wireless and video markets, the region’s upgrades to 5G and beyond, and migration to high-definition mobile video.

InterDigital® develops mobile and video technologies that are at the core of devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industry’s most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks, better video delivery, and richer multimedia experiences years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world’s leading technology companies. Founded in 1972, InterDigital is listed on Nasdaq.

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc

For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur was established on 2nd November 1959 by an Act of Parliament. The institute has a sprawling campus spread over 1055 acres with a large pool of academic and research resources spanning across 19 departments, 22 centres, and 3 Interdisciplinary programs in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines with more than 540 full-time faculty members and approximately 9000 students. In addition to formal undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the institute has been active in research and development in areas of value to both industry and government.

Bharat 6G Alliance Launched to Drive Innovation and Collaboration in Next-Gen Wireless Technology

More than 75 Innovators Felicitated by DoT

Under DCIS (Digital Communication Innovation Square) , Rs. 48 crore as grant aided to 66 Startups and MSMEs

India and USA to Co-Create Technology

Taking lead in 6G Technology, on Monday, Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology announced the formation of the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA), a collaborative platform consisting of public and private companies, academia, research institutions, and Standards development organizations.

The website for Bharat6G Alliance was also launched - bharat6galliance.com

The primary objective of B6GA is to understand the business and societal needs of 6G beyond technology requirements, foster consensus on these needs, and promote high-impact open research and development (R&D) initiatives.

B6GA also aims to bring together Indian startups, companies, and the manufacturing ecosystem to establish consortia that drive the design, development and deployment of 6G technologies in India. By accelerating standards-related patent creation within the country and actively contributing to international standardization organizations such as 3GPP and ITU, B6GA seeks to position India at the forefront of 6G innovation.

B6GA will forge coalitions and synergies with other 6G Global Alliances, fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Additionally, with a grant of ₹ 240.51 crores under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF), two agreements were signed for projects —

1. 6G THz Testbed with Orbital Angular Momentum(OAM) & Multiplexing through consortium of SAMEER, IIT Madras, IIT Guwahati and IIT Patna
2. Advance Optical Communication Test Bed with Consortium Members as IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Delhi, Signalchip Innovations, Signaltron Systems Pvt Ltd, Sasmos het Technologies Ltd, SFO Technologies Pvt. Ltd, ERNET India, Quanfluence Private Ltd, Sterlite Technologies Limited, Nav tech, Tejas network.

Further, Under DCIS (Digital Communication Innovation Square) the following announcements were made —

• Grant of  Rs. 48 crore to 66 Startups and MSMEs. 
• 75 Innovators were  felicitated by DoT for their remarkable contributions to the field, recognizing their outstanding achievements and dedication. Department of Telecommunications under DCIS Scheme has been funding such startups and MSMEs. 
• Details of DCIS are available at https://dcis.dot.gov.in/

The Government of India is catalysing the next-generation 6G research and innovation in the country to enable India to be a front-line contributor in 6G technology and manufacturing by 2030.

To recall, DoT constituted a Technology Innovation Group on 6G (TIG-6G) on 1st November 2021 with members from various Ministries/Departments, research and development institutions, academia, standardization bodies, Telecom Service Providers and industry to develop Vision, Mission and Goals for the 6G and also develop a roadmap and action plans for 6G in India.

Besides, in consequence to Hon’ble Prime Minister visit to United States of America, India and USA shall co-create technology and the change shall be instrumental to Developed India.

India is also developing Advance optical communication with zero latency that shall help in fields like Telemedical and Telesurgery. He further emphasized that Bharat 6G alliance shall provide a push for making India a leader in 6G Technology and IPR.

IIT Hyderabad Takes Early Lead in 6G Wireless Tech 'MIMO' at Extreme Massive Scale

Representational

IITH takes an early lead in 6G research by showcasing key developments in the use of extreme massive MIMO technology

This is a 3-fold improvement over the state-of-the-art 5G massive MIMO technology

Spectrum is a scarce natural resource. The extreme massive MIMO technology developed by IITH showcased possibilities of a 3-fold increase in 5G spectrum utilization

MEITY and DOT have supported the R&D over the last 10-years

Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) today announced a demonstration of the Extreme Massive MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output), a key technology that is being considered for 5G-advanced and 6G deployments. 

For an uninitiated, Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) is a wireless technology that is used for sending and receiving multiple data signals simultaneously over the same radio channel.

“Using multiple antennas at the base station, massive MIMO increases the coverage and capacity of cellular networks. This technology has become mainstream and is now an integral part of 5G. Extreme massive MIMO refers to next-generation technology that uses very large antenna arrays. IITH developed an experimental research prototype with the aim to discover achievable performance limits. The first set of pilots conducted using 192 antennas and 48 radio frequency chains showed that up to 24-36 users could be served in the same spectrum. This is a 3-fold improvement over the state-of-the-art 5G massive MIMO technology, designed to support 12 simultaneous users. For cellular operators and users, this technology offers immense benefits; cell phone users will experience high-quality voice and video delivery in crowded areas like airports, malls, railway stations, etc.; cellular operators will be able to offer broadband wireless internet in rural households, dynamic steering of the cell site beams to reduce coverage holes in urban as well as rural areas”, said Prof Kiran Kuchi, Dean (R&D).

Prof Sai Dhiraj, the Lead Researcher for the project, said, “The research team at IITH continues to extend the boundaries of this technology. The ongoing investigations include new deployment topologies for indoor applications and outdoor cell sites. We are excited about this discovery and the possibilities offered by this new technology”.

Congratulating the IITH team for this noteworthy work, Prof B S Murty, Director, IITH, said, “Spectrum is a scarce natural resource. In countries like India, with a large population and limited wireline infrastructure, the demand for spectrum will continue to be very high. I am delighted that India takes an early lead in 6G research by showcasing the possibility of deploying next-generation networks using the extreme Massive MIMO technology developed by IITH. I also thank DOT and MEITY for the sustained R&D support over the years".

Expressing delight for this momentous milestone, Shri K Rajaraman, Secretary DOT, said, "IIT Hyderabad has been leading from the front in IP development. Their work on NB-IoT and other areas as part of the 5G testbed has been remarkable. We in the Department of Telecommunications are delighted to hear of the development of the Extreme Massive MIMO heralding even greater efficiency in the use of spectrum. I am sure that the IITH research team will play a significant role in the Government of India's 5G advanced and 6G efforts”.

The researcher can be reached via our public relations cell at pro@iith.ac.in for any further queries on the subject matter.

Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) is one of the eight new IITs established by the Government of India in 2008. In a short span of 14 years, the institute has become a top-ranker. Currently, it has 260+ full-time faculty, ~3,900 students, nearly 200+ state-of-the-art laboratories, and five research and entrepreneurship centers. The institute has a strong research focus with approx Rs 575+ crore of sanctioned research funding, with PhD scholars accounting for about 30% of total student strength. IITH has to its credit more than 7200+ research publications, 210+ patent disclosures, 1600+ sponsored/consultancy projects, and about 100+ startups.

To know more, please visit: https://www.iith.ac.in/

With 1000 Gbps, Samsung Claims To Achieve 50x Speed in 6G Compared to 5G

South Korean technology giant Samsung claimed to have achieved 50 times faster speed in 6G research compared to 5G.

In a white paper, released by Samsung, entitled "The Next Hyper-Connected Experience for All", the company expects that the completion of the 6G standard and its earliest commercialization date could be as early as 2028, while mass commercialization may occur around 2030.

While 5G was designed to achieve 20 Gbps peak data rate, in 6G, Samsung aim to provide the peak data rate of 1,000 Gbps and a user experienced data rate of 1 Gbps. Examples of 6G performance requirements are a peak data rate of 1,000 Gbps (gigabits per second) and air latency less than 100 microseconds (μs), 50 times the peak data rate and one-tenth the latency of 5G.

Samsung expects that the completion of the 6G standard and its earliest commercialization could be as early as 2028, while mass commercialization may occur around 2030.

Samsung defines three categories of requirements that have to be met to realize 6G services – performance, architectural and trustworthiness requirements.

The architectural requirements of 6G include resolving the issues arising from the limited computation capability of mobile devices as well as implementing AI right from the initial phase of technology development and enabling the flexible integration of new network entities. 

The trustworthiness requirement addresses the security and privacy issues arising from the widespread use of user data and AI technologies.

The Samsung white paper also introduces candidate technologies that could be essential to satisfy the requirements for 6G. These include the use of the terahertz (THz) frequency band, novel antenna technologies to enhance the coverage of high frequency band signals, advanced duplex technologies, the evolution of network topology, spectrum sharing to increase the efficiency of frequency utilization and the use of AI in wireless communications.