Bengaluru: India hosts first-ever 3GPP RAN meetings on 6G standardization

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is holding the Radio Access Networks (RAN) working group meetings — RAN1 through RAN5 — to discuss 6G standardisation and related aspects.

The international event, which was inaugurated in Bangalore on August 25, will go on till 29 of this month. It marked the launch of formal discussions on 3GPP Release 20, the foundation of global 6G specifications, alongside the finalization of Release 19, crucial for driving momentum in the 5G Advanced ecosystem.

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“The Bengaluru meetings are a landmark opportunity for Indian stakeholders. For the first time, global 3GPP discussions are being held in India, enabling domestic researchers, companies, and academic institutions to participate locally, gain direct exposure, and contribute meaningfully without the constraints of international travel. This inclusive platform will empower Indian organizations to align with global developments in real-time and contribute to 6G standardization efforts,” the Ministry of Communications said in a statement issued here on Tuesday.

It’s a milestone for India’s telecom sector and is being held with the support of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, and hosted by the Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI). Over 1,500 delegates from more than 50 countries are participating in the event.

TSDSI, the recognized Standards Development Organization (SDO) of India and one of the seven organizational partners of 3GPP, played a major role in bringing the discussions to India.

Bringing 3GPP to India signals a shift in global standard-setting dynamics, where emerging technology leaders like India play an increasingly influential role. The event is expected to spark deeper industry-academia collaboration, promote domestic innovation, and solidify India’s place as a key contributor to the global telecom standards ecosystem, the statement added.

Meanwhile, India’s active involvement in the overall affair would give its researchers and companies direct access to influence future telecom technologies.

The DoT delegation is participating in the meetings, reflecting the government’s commitment to India’s 6G vision and its long-term engagement in international telecom standardization efforts.

This has happened for the first time that the Indian researchers, companies, and academic institutions are able to participate locally in 3GPP discussions.

It provides them with real-time access to global deliberations and creates opportunities for meaningful contributions to 6G standardization.