- Giga MIMO Radio and pre-6G technology stack take centre stage at India Mobile Congress 2026
- Jio targets up to five times the network capacity and nearly 10 times lower latency than 5G
- More than 8,000 patents and 934 global standards contributions underpin its technology ambitions
- AI-native, quantum-safe networks could open new frontiers in healthcare, education and precision agriculture
NE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY BUREAU
NEW DELHI, OCT 9
What if a doctor could examine a patient remotely with almost instantaneous digital feedback, a farmer could receive AI-powered guidance without frustrating network delays, and students could access richer, more immersive learning experiences? Could 6G make such possibilities more practical—and could India help shape the technology rather than merely adopt it?
Reliance Jio believes the country has an opportunity to be among the first to roll out the next generation of mobile connectivity once global standards are finalised, which it anticipates around 2030. At the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 in New Delhi, the telecom major is showcasing its pre-6G technology stack and Giga MIMO Radio, signalling its ambition to move from deploying networks to developing technologies that could influence the global 6G landscape.
GIGA MIMO: THE CAPACITY QUESTION
A centrepiece of Jio’s showcase is its Giga MIMO Radio, which the company describes as India’s first. Jio has also unveiled a common baseband unit designed to support both 5G and 6G, highlighting an approach intended to help bridge existing infrastructure with future network requirements.
According to Jio, 6G could deliver up to five times the network capacity of current 5G networks, alongside a target of nearly 10 times lower latency. Greater capacity could allow networks to accommodate more users and data-intensive applications, while lower latency could make interactions between devices, networks and digital services more responsive.
These are technology targets, however, rather than guaranteed outcomes for every user. Actual performance will depend on final standards, spectrum availability, network deployment and the applications being developed.
FROM CONNECTIVITY TO AI-POWERED SERVICES
For Jio, the promise of 6G extends beyond faster downloads. The company expects next-generation networks to support more responsive AI services and potentially enable applications involving holographic video, healthcare, education and other data-intensive digital experiences.
At IMC 2026, Jio highlighted potential AI applications for farmers, doctors and students. The broader proposition is that high-capacity, low-latency connectivity could help digital services respond more quickly when timely information and near-real-time interaction matter.
Jio is also pursuing AI-native and quantum-safe networks. AI-native architecture seeks to integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into network design and management, while quantum-safe security aims to protect communications against future threats associated with advances in quantum computing.
The practical impact of these technologies will depend on implementation, affordability, cybersecurity safeguards and the ability to translate research into reliable services.
PATENTS, STANDARDS AND THE GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY RACE
The contest for 6G leadership is not simply about launching networks first. It also involves developing intellectual property, designing hardware and software, and contributing to the international standards that will determine how future networks operate across countries and devices.
Jio says it has filed more than 8,000 patents, including hundreds relating to 6G, and has made over 934 contributions to global standards. These figures, cited by the company, reflect its stated effort to establish a stronger position in the technologies underpinning next-generation connectivity.
The strategic significance is considerable: participation in standards development can help technology companies influence how systems are designed and ensure that their innovations are considered in the evolution of global telecommunications. Patent filings and standards contributions, however, do not by themselves guarantee that a particular technology will be adopted commercially.
FROM INDIA TO THE WORLD
Jio’s ambition rests on four pillars: hardware, software, patents and global standards. By building capabilities across these areas, the company aims to strengthen its position in the emerging 6G ecosystem and expand the international relevance of Indian-developed technology.
Its showcase is framed around two themes—“India’s 6G in the Making” and “From India to the World”—reflecting a vision in which India participates not only as a major market for future connectivity but also as a contributor to its underlying technologies.
With global 6G standards still to be finalised, the road to commercial deployment remains a work in progress. Jio’s message at IMC 2026 is that the groundwork must begin well before the launch date: through research, intellectual property, standards participation and the development of technologies capable of competing on the world stage.
The question now is whether India’s technological ambitions can translate into deployable, affordable and globally competitive 6G solutions when the standards and commercial ecosystem are ready.
I