After 5G, India to lead the world in 6G: Jyotiraditya Scindia

February 11, 2026

New Delhi: Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said that India followed the world in 4G, marched with the world in 5G and will lead the world in 6G. Responding to questions in the Lok Sabha, the minister highlighted India’s rapidly transforming digital landscape and future roadmap.

Fastest 5G Rollout in the World

India has rolled out 5G at the fastest pace globally. Within just 22 months, 5G services have been launched in 99.9 per cent of the country’s districts, setting a global benchmark.

“Telecom service providers have invested nearly Rs 4 lakh crore for this expansion, with over 5 lakh BTS (Base Transceiver Stations) installed nationwide,” he said.

Currently, 400 million citizens are benefiting from 5G services, and the number is expected to rise to 1 billion by 2030.

Expanding Digital Access to Rural India

Highlighting efforts to extend digital connectivity to the last mile, Scindia said the expansion of Wi-Fi networks is ushering in a new revolution in rural India. He noted that Maharashtra ranks among the top states in Wi-Fi hotspot deployments.

Broadband connectivity has surged from 60 million connections a decade ago to 1 billion today. By 2030, the government aims to further strengthen and deepen this digital infrastructure.

India’s Rising Global Digital Standing

The government also said India has improved its global ‘Network Readiness Index 2025’ (NRI 2025) ranking by four slots to 45th position. The report was published by the Portulans Institute, Washington, DC.

India’s score improved from 53.63 in 2024 to 54.43 in 2025. The Ministry of Communications noted that India now leads in several key indicators, reflecting its growing digital strength.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is no longer a follower of technology but has emerged as a global digital leader,” Scindia said, adding that the digital revolution is reaching villages across the country and transforming education, healthcare and livelihoods.