India has formally joined the United States and 24 other nations in a global alliance to steer the development and deployment of next-generation 6G telecommunications networks.

The announcement was made by the US Department of Commerce following a bilateral meeting between US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada on the sidelines of the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The Department of Commerce highlighted that the initiative aims to ensure next-generation networks reflect shared security interests, strengthen competitiveness, and drive innovation in 6G. The agreement was finalised during discussions that underscored the importance of aligning technological frameworks among like-minded nations.

Jitin Prasada led the Indian delegation at the G20 Innovation Ministers’ meeting held on September 1 and 2. The delegation included Ajit Kumar, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), senior officials from MeitY, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), and representatives from the Embassy of India in Washington, DC.

The G20 Innovation Ministerial concluded with a joint statement recognising that emerging technologies have the potential to unlock prosperity, enhance productivity, and expand opportunities for all citizens. This statement reinforced the collective commitment of member nations to harness innovation for inclusive growth.

On the sidelines of the Ministerial, Prasada engaged in several bilateral discussions. His meeting with Howard Lutnick focused on strengthening cooperation in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and data centres.

He encouraged greater US investments in India’s ISM2.0 initiative, proposed mechanisms for safeguards in AI, and emphasised the importance of advancing technology-led opportunities between India and the United States.

Prasada later posted on X that semiconductors, AI, and data centres are critical building blocks of the emerging digital economy. He noted that both sides examined avenues to deepen practical collaboration and thanked the US G20 Presidency for its hospitality.

The engagements during the visit underscored India’s growing role in shaping the global technology and innovation agenda.

They reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to building strategic partnerships that translate advances in AI, semiconductors, digital public infrastructure, robotics, and other emerging technologies into greater opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and improved quality of life for its citizens.

India’s participation in the 6G alliance signals its determination to be at the forefront of next-generation communications technology. It also reflects a broader strategy to integrate with global innovation networks while simultaneously strengthening domestic capabilities in critical sectors.

ANI