Reliance Jio used the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 in New Delhi to set out its most detailed 6G roadmap yet, showcasing homegrown technology it says could put India among the earliest nations to deploy the next generation of mobile networks.
The company displayed its pre-6G technology stack and Giga MIMO Radio at IMC 2026. The Giga MIMO Radio, which Jio describes as India's first, was shown alongside a common baseband unit capable of supporting both 5G and 6G.
Jio says India could be among the first countries to roll out 6G when global standards are finalised in 2030. The company's targets include up to five times the network capacity of current 5G systems and around ten times lower latency, though these are development targets and actual performance will depend on how the technology and standards evolve.
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. Jio's 6G strategy extends beyond operating next-generation mobile networks: the company aims to strengthen its presence across hardware, software, patents and international standards, positioning India as a contributor to the development of future telecom technologies.
The company frames its vision through two themes: "India's 6G in the Making" and "From India to the World."
Alongside its 6G work, Jio is also pursuing AI-native and quantum-safe networks. AI-native networks are designed to integrate artificial intelligence into network operations, while quantum-safe technologies aim to protect communications against potential future threats from quantum computing.
Potential applications flagged by Jio include real-time artificial intelligence, holographic video communications, remote healthcare and digital education. No commercial launch date has been announced.
Source : ET Telecom
