India’s Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) is set to get a booster shot from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the European Union’s (EU’s) 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association, under the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two sides concluded on Monday.
According to industry watchers, the tieup will enable the co-development of more secure digital infrastructure and trusted communication systems at a faster pace and potentially lower cost.
“The India–EU FTA brings together complementary strengths: India offers scale, speed, and manufacturing depth, while Europe contributes advanced design capability, technology collaboration, standards alignment, and predictable market access. The agreement opens a strong pathway for 6G collaboration, combining European research leadership with India’s ability to industrialise at scale,” said Paritosh Prajapati, chief executive officer of GX Group, a telecommunications (telecom) equipment manufacturer based in the Netherlands.
“The impact is faster innovation cycles, lower deployment costs, stronger supply-chain resilience, and joint leadership in global standards, moving the partnership beyond trade volumes into a long-term industrial growth platform for both economies,” he added.
Under the FTA, the two sides intend to strengthen mutual experience-sharing on universal, meaningful, robust, and secure digital infrastructure and collaborate to develop and promote secure and trusted telecom ecosystems, including through the MoU. This is in line with the Joint India–EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda for 2030.
Launched in 2023, the B6GA aims to position India as a leading global supplier of intellectual property (IP), products, and solutions for affordable 5G, 6G, and future telecom technologies. The multi-stakeholder platform includes academia, industry, startups, and public institutions and forms the strategic foundation for India’s leadership in 6G, the standards for which are currently being debated at the global level.
The alliance is also designed to build a comprehensive, future-ready 6G ecosystem in India, with a focus on research and development, innovation, and standardisation. This is central to the national mission of making India a global leader in 6G by 2030, when the technology is expected to succeed 5G.
India aims to secure at least 10 per cent of global IP rights in the 6G space. It is already working on indigenous radio access network technology, intelligent and inclusive networks for rural connectivity, and a range of cross-sector 6G applications in areas such as agriculture, healthcare and smart, sustainable deployment. The alliance has a network of 80 member organisations, including over 30 startups, reflecting growing national momentum for indigenous 6G innovation.
 "India-EU FTA: India's Bharat 6G Alliance push gets clearer signal")
