Chennai: Union Telecom Minister Jyotir Aditya Scindia announced that India is set to become a global leader in the introduction of 6G technology.

Speaking at an event at IIT Madras, he highlighted the nation's technological progress, contrasting it with earlier generations of mobile networks.

“When 4G technology was introduced, India followed the world; with 5G, we moved in sync. Now, with 6G, India will lead,” Scindia stated, emphasizing India's rapid transformation in the telecommunications sector.

Scindia also noted the exponential growth in mobile and internet usage. Since the mobile phone's 1993 introduction in just six cities, India now boasts 1.17 billion mobile users. Internet connections have surged from 250 million a decade ago to 970 million today, and broadband connections have grown from 60 million to 940 million in the same period.

Under the BharatNet project, efforts are underway to connect 246,000 rural areas to the internet, a move Scindia believes will solidify India as a global technology hub.

Praising IIT Madras for its top NIRF ranking, he encouraged students to leverage their education for the nation's technological advancement.

Scindia concluded by discussing India's rapid deployment of 5G, with 98% coverage in urban areas, and the government's initiative to transform India into a telecommunications manufacturing hub.