India formally joins Washington-led global effort to coordinate 6G standards, security and industrial policy among trusted partner nations.
NEW DELHI — India has joined the United States and 24 other countries in an initiative aimed at shaping the development of next-generation 6G networks, the US Department of Commerce announced, according to a Times of India report published September 7, 2026. The department stated on X: "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."
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Origins of the NTIA Call to Action
The coalition stems from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's "Call to Action for 6G Leadership and Security," launched July 27, 2026, according to an NTIA press release. The initiative brings together trusted partner governments across Europe, the Indo-Pacific and the Western Hemisphere, pledging cooperation on 6G security, interoperability and resilience over the next 12 months and beyond. A European Commission digital strategy note dated the same day listed signatories including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, describing the pact as endorsed by more than 20 governments. A Lightreading report published August 13, 2026, noted that India was absent from the initial signatory list, making its later accession a notable addition to the bloc, now counted at 25 governments.
India's Existing 6G Groundwork
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India's accession builds on domestic efforts already underway. The Bharat 6G Vision document, released March 22, 2023, envisions India as a frontline contributor to 6G design and deployment by 2030, according to the Press Information Bureau. The government-backed Bharat 6G Alliance, established in 2022, has signed memoranda of understanding with the US NextG Alliance, Europe's 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association, and Finland's 6G Flagship at Oulu University, per PIB records. In October 2025, the alliance joined nine international bodies in signing the Delhi Declaration, committing to secure, open, resilient and inclusive 6G design. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said India aims to contribute nearly 10 percent of global 6G patents, with around 4,000 already contributed, and that India's "ubiquitous connectivity" proposal was accepted by the ITU and 3GPP as one of six official 6G usage scenarios. Indian participation in 3GPP rose from 717 participants in 2020 to 1,787 in 2025, PIB data show.
