India rapidly working on "Made in India 6G technology", says PM Modi in Melbourne
Melbourne, July 9
Addressing a community event in Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that India is rapidly working on 'Made in India' 6G technology, positioning itself at the forefront of global telecommunications innovation after established milestones in its current digital infrastructure rollout.
PM Modi detailed how the domestic digital landscape shifted alongside expansive physical transport networks over the past decade.
"Today, India has become the world's second-largest 5G market," PM Modi said. "India is rapidly working on 'Made in India' 6G technology."
He noted that over the past 12 years, the metro network has expanded to more than two dozen cities across India.
"Today, over 12.5 million people travel by metro in India daily. India possesses the third-largest metro network in the world. We are rapidly expanding semi-high-speed networks in India, such as the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and Vande Bharat," PM Modi said.
Beyond public infrastructure, deregulated sectors like defence and aerospace drove a surge in entrepreneurship, transitioning industrial capabilities toward private enterprise.
"Today, India has more than 200,000 registered start-ups," PM Modi said. "More than 4,000 new start-ups are being registered every month in India. Hundreds of start-ups are also working in sectors such as defence and space."
The Prime Minister linked this domestic growth directly to India's evolving international partnerships, particularly noting the expanding commercial and technological alignment with Australia.
"These sectors were opened to private entrepreneurship only a few years ago, and today, India's first private space start-up is set to launch a satellite on its own rocket very soon," PM Modi stated. "Over the past twelve years, India has emerged as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem... And now, an Indian space startup is poised to launch a satellite using its own rocket for the very first time. I am delighted that the partnership between India and Australia in the realms of education, skills, and innovation is deepening and strengthening."
Bilateral trade mechanisms provided the foundational support for these collaborative developments, with formal frameworks cutting barriers and increasing market reach.
"Whatever India and Australia do proves beneficial for both nations," PM Modi said. "The India-Australia Trade Agreement is a prime example of this."
The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA) completed four years since its signing on April 2, 2022. The agreement enhanced trade flows and industry linkages between the two nations over this period.
Following the implementation of the agreement, Indian exports to Australia rose from USD 4 billion in FY 2020-21 to USD 8.5 billion in FY 2024-25. Total bilateral trade reached USD 24.1 billion during 2024-25, with Indian exports growing 8 per cent over the previous year.
For the fiscal year 2025-26, total trade between the two nations reached USD 19.3 billion by February.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I appreciate the vision, but I hope the benefits reach the common person too. In my village, even 4G is patchy. Before jumping to 6G, we should ensure reliable connectivity across all regions. The metro expansion is nice for cities, but rural infrastructure needs equal attention.
As someone working in telecom, I can confirm we've come a long way. The Ind-Aus trade agreement numbers are impressive - exports doubling in 4 years shows real substance behind the rhetoric. Now if we can manufacture chipsets locally, 6G will truly be 'Made in India' from top to bottom.
As an Australian working in tech, it's exciting to see India pushing boundaries. The startup culture there is incredible - 4,000 new startups per month is mind-blowing! Our collaboration with Indian companies has been very fruitful. ECTA has genuinely opened doors for both countries.
12.5 million metro users daily is great, but have you ridden the Delhi Metro lately? Overcrowded beyond capacity during peak hours. We need the infrastructure to match the growth. Vande Bharat is good for elites but common travel still needs massive overhaul in trains and buses. Still, the trade figures are encouraging - USD 24 billion is no joke!
Seeing an Indian space startup launch its own satellite is surreal! The private sector deregulation is paying off. My cousin works at one such startup and the energy there is incredible. However, I hope the government ensures the rural-urban digital divide doesn't widen with 6G. Let's not forget the last mile connectivity even as we aim for the stars.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.