India Hosts First-Ever 3GPP RAN Meetings on 6G Standardization in Bengaluru

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Bengaluru – In a landmark development for India’s telecom industry and the global communications community, the country is hosting the first-ever 3GPP Radio Access Network (RAN) Working Group meetings in Bengaluru. The high-profile event, which began on August 25, 2025, will continue till August 29, 2025, at Whitefield, Bengaluru, and marks India’s formal entry into the global stage of 6G standardization.

Supported by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications, and hosted by the Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI), the event brings together the world’s leading telecom experts, researchers, and industry leaders. Discussions at the meeting focus on 3GPP Release 20, which forms the foundation of global 6G specifications, alongside the finalization of Release 19 that will advance the evolution of 5G Advanced.

Historic Participation

The Bengaluru event has recorded the highest-ever global participation in any 3GPP RAN meeting, with over 1,500 delegates from more than 50 countries. Attendees include representatives from 3GPP Individual Members, major global telecom companies, equipment manufacturers, research organizations, and academic institutions.

This unprecedented level of participation highlights the growing global interest in 6G development and the recognition of India’s role in shaping the next generation of telecom technologies.

India Steps Into Global Telecom Leadership

This is the first time 3GPP RAN meetings are being held in India, giving Indian researchers, startups, and companies a unique opportunity to directly engage with global stakeholders. By hosting these discussions locally, Indian participants can contribute more actively, eliminating the barriers of international travel and enabling real-time collaboration with global experts.

According to the DoT, this initiative demonstrates the Government of India’s commitment to making India a key player in next-generation telecom standardization. With 6G expected to power ultra-fast, intelligent, and immersive digital ecosystems, the country’s participation at this early stage is a strategic move toward building its leadership in the global telecom supply chain.

A senior official from the DoT emphasized, “India is not just a consumer of advanced technologies but a contributor to the evolution of telecom standards. Hosting 3GPP meetings in Bengaluru allows our researchers and industry leaders to engage directly with the global ecosystem, shaping the future of communications technology.”

Role of TSDSI

The Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI) is playing a pivotal role in making this milestone possible. Recognized as the Standards Development Organization (SDO) of India, TSDSI is also one of the seven organizational partners of 3GPP. The society has been actively advocating for India’s participation in the global standard-setting process, ensuring that the country’s unique requirements and innovations are represented.

TSDSI leaders have highlighted that India’s participation in 3GPP’s global framework is critical not just for technological progress, but also for ensuring interoperability, inclusivity, and fair representation of developing markets.

Shaping the Future of 6G

The ongoing meetings in Bengaluru revolve around two key themes:

Finalization of 3GPP Release 19 – Laying down the specifications for 5G Advanced, an intermediate step that will enhance the current 5G ecosystem with improved speeds, efficiency, and reliability.
Initiation of 3GPP Release 20 – The first formal step toward defining the 6G framework, which will set the direction for global 6G standards over the coming years.

6G is expected to go far beyond existing 5G capabilities by enabling technologies such as holographic communications, tactile internet, ultra-reliable low-latency applications, AI-driven networks, and seamless integration of digital-physical ecosystems. For India, active participation at this stage means being part of designing technologies that could transform industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, smart cities, space communications, and defense.

Opportunities for Indian Ecosystem

The Bengaluru meetings are also being seen as a catalyst for domestic innovation and collaboration. For Indian startups, research institutions, and universities, direct exposure to 3GPP deliberations provides a chance to align their R&D with global requirements and standards.

Industry experts believe that this platform could trigger greater academia-industry-government collaboration, enabling India to not just adopt but also export 6G innovations.

Moreover, as telecom becomes increasingly intertwined with national security and digital sovereignty, India’s proactive participation in standardization ensures that its interests and priorities are adequately represented in global decision-making.

Global Significance

By hosting the 3GPP RAN meetings, India joins a select group of countries that have historically influenced global telecom standards. This move is seen as a shift in the global standard-setting landscape, where emerging technology leaders like India are asserting themselves as active contributors rather than passive adopters.

The event also strengthens India’s reputation as a preferred hub for global technology discussions, underlining its capabilities in research, innovation, and digital transformation.

Conclusion

The 3GPP RAN meetings in Bengaluru mark a turning point in India’s telecom journey. With the highest-ever global participation, the event signifies not only the importance of 6G in shaping future digital economies but also India’s growing role in driving this evolution.

For India, this is more than just a hosting opportunity – it is a strategic milestone that cements its position as a key contributor to the global telecom ecosystem. By engaging directly in the foundation-building phase of 6G standardization, India is well-positioned to influence how the next era of communication technologies will unfold.