Reliance Jio has said India could be among the first countries in the world to roll out 6G services once global standards for the next-generation technology are finalised around 2030. The telecom operator outlined its roadmap at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 in New Delhi, where it is demonstrating a pre-6G technology stack and new radio equipment it claims to have developed in-house.
According to the company, 6G networks could deliver up to five times the capacity of today's 5G networks while reducing latency — the delay in data transmission — by nearly ten times. In practical terms, the company says, networks would be able to handle far more users and data simultaneously and respond to commands much faster, opening up uses such as real-time artificial intelligence applications, holographic video, and advanced services in healthcare and education.
Giga MIMO Radio and common baseband unit
A centrepiece of Jio's showcase is its Giga MIMO Radio, which the company describes as India's first. The operator has also unveiled a common baseband unit capable of supporting both 5G and 6G networks. Jio says it is developing its own hardware and software rather than relying on foreign vendors, and intends to participate in shaping international 6G standards.
The company says it has filed more than 8,000 patents, including hundreds related to 6G, and has made over 934 contributions to global standards bodies. It also highlighted AI-driven use cases aimed at farmers, doctors and students, and said it is working toward AI-native and quantum-safe networks that combine faster connectivity with stronger security.
Standards race still ahead
Global standards for 6G are not expected to be finalised until around 2030, and commercial rollouts will depend on spectrum allocation, equipment readiness and coordination with international bodies. Jio's pitch is that India's early investment in indigenous technology could put it in the first wave of countries to launch commercial 6G services.
Sources: India could be among first countries to roll out 6G: Jio — Mathrubhumi English · IMC 2026: Jio unveils 6G technology, says India could be among first to launch it — News9live
According to the company, 6G networks could deliver up to five times the capacity of today's 5G networks while reducing latency — the delay in data transmission — by nearly ten times. In practical terms, the company says, networks would be able to handle far more users and data simultaneously and respond to commands much faster, opening up uses such as real-time artificial intelligence applications, holographic video, and advanced services in healthcare and education.
Giga MIMO Radio and common baseband unit
A centrepiece of Jio's showcase is its Giga MIMO Radio, which the company describes as India's first. The operator has also unveiled a common baseband unit capable of supporting both 5G and 6G networks. Jio says it is developing its own hardware and software rather than relying on foreign vendors, and intends to participate in shaping international 6G standards.
The company says it has filed more than 8,000 patents, including hundreds related to 6G, and has made over 934 contributions to global standards bodies. It also highlighted AI-driven use cases aimed at farmers, doctors and students, and said it is working toward AI-native and quantum-safe networks that combine faster connectivity with stronger security.
Standards race still ahead
Global standards for 6G are not expected to be finalised until around 2030, and commercial rollouts will depend on spectrum allocation, equipment readiness and coordination with international bodies. Jio's pitch is that India's early investment in indigenous technology could put it in the first wave of countries to launch commercial 6G services.
Sources: India could be among first countries to roll out 6G: Jio — Mathrubhumi English · IMC 2026: Jio unveils 6G technology, says India could be among first to launch it — News9live