AI-native networks and 6G take centre stage at India Mobile Congress 2026

Global technology executives and policymakers converged in New Delhi for the opening sessions of the India Mobile Congress 2026, identifying artificial intelligence-driven infrastructure and sixth-generation wireless research as the primary vectors for future telecommunications. The four-day convention, hosted at the Yashobhoomi convention centre under the theme 'Scale Without Boundaries,' brought together infrastructure providers, equipment manufacturers and government ministers to chart the evolution beyond fifth-generation deployments.

The discussions mark a strategic shift for the domestic sector from raw network expansion toward intelligent, programmable architectures. As telecom operators seek new revenue streams following widespread 5G rollout, industry leaders emphasized that embedding intelligence directly into network layers will determine industrial productivity, energy efficiency and global competitiveness over the next decade.

Addressing delegates during the summit, Bharat 6G Alliance Chairman NG Subramaniam stated that sixth-generation development is proceeding in mission mode through coordinated public and private research. He noted that future systems will treat knowledge and data with equal priority, allowing interactive communication systems to evolve alongside artificial intelligence models.

Hardware and software providers expanded on the technical requirements for these upcoming architectures. Samsung Korea 3GPP RAN chair Youn Sun Kim emphasized that standardisation bodies must accommodate regional market differences to construct a unified global framework. Kim pointed out that future standards must prioritize spectrum efficiency, energy conservation and the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.

Network equipment makers also detailed commercial readiness for compute-heavy infrastructure. Nokia India country leader Samar Mittal noted that artificial intelligence radio access networks are already demonstrating measurable gains in spectrum utilisation during early trials. Concurrently, Reliance Jio President and Group Chief Technology Officer for Mobility Shyam Prabhakar Mardikar underscored that merging computational capabilities with raw connectivity will fundamentally alter business models for network operators.

Policy frameworks and spectrum availability emerged as critical prerequisites during the ministerial segments. Nokia representatives cautioned that timely and adequate spectrum allocation remains essential for successful 6G adoption. Meanwhile, domestic authorities highlighted ongoing efforts to secure indigenous intellectual property rights and foster local semiconductor manufacturing to support sovereign digital infrastructure.

The conference continues through the week with technical symposia focused on autonomous network management, edge computing, quantum communications and startup deployment challenges. Industry participants expect subsequent sessions to yield further clarity on standardisation timelines ahead of upcoming international telecommunication assemblies.