India Foundation Advocates Integration of 6G and Satellite Networks to Bridge Global Connectivity Gap

The ITU-APT Foundation of India has called for a coordinated strategy combining next-generation terrestrial networks, satellite systems, and flexible spectrum allocation to address persistent digital access disparities worldwide. While 8.8 billion mobile connections exist globally, only 60 percent of the population enjoys meaningful connectivity through 3G or better, with just 35-40 percent of land area covered. The foundation emphasized that terrestrial networks alone cannot overcome geographic and economic barriers in remote areas, requiring integrated technology approaches to deliver universal meaningful access.

The ITU-APT Foundation presented its position at a global workshop in Geneva, where executives from major telecommunications and technology organizations gathered to discuss closing digital access gaps. The foundation noted that despite billions of mobile subscriptions worldwide, the actual quality and reliability of connectivity varies dramatically—with less than two-thirds of the global population accessing speeds that enable meaningful participation in digital services. Geographic challenges including mountainous terrain, sparse populations, and insufficient electrical infrastructure have historically made network expansion unprofitable in developing regions.

The foundation argues that 6G development presents a unique opportunity to redesign how connectivity systems operate. Rather than building terrestrial and satellite networks as separate infrastructures, future networks could integrate both approaches from inception, allowing each technology to serve its most efficient purpose—terrestrial systems in populated areas and satellite systems covering remote territories, oceans, and airspace simultaneously.