Government Calls for Industry Push on 6G, AI and Quantum at DIGICOM Summit 2026

India's telecom sector is entering a decisive new phase of growth and innovation, with the government calling for deeper industry collaboration and increased investment in next-generation technologies such as 6G, Artificial Intelligence, and Quantum systems.

Inaugurating the COAI DIGICOM Summit 2026 in New Delhi, themed "India's Techade: Accelerating and Shaping the Digital Future," Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, highlighted the transformative progress made in India's telecom landscape and outlined an ambitious roadmap for the future.

Telecom Transformation Sets Stage for Next Wave

Dr. Pemmasani emphasized that India's telecom sector has undergone structural transformation over the past decade, driven by bold policy reforms, rapid infrastructure expansion, and strong industry participation.

"Technology is evolving rapidly—6G, AI, and Quantum represent the next frontier. This is both an opportunity and a challenge, and success will depend on close collaboration between government and industry," he said.

Landmark Policy Reforms Reshape Sector

The Minister underlined that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India has re-engineered nearly every major policy lever in telecom, creating a stable and forward-looking regulatory environment.

Key reforms include:

• Telecommunications Act, 2023 — the first comprehensive overhaul of telecom laws in over 140 years, introducing clear licensing frameworks, stronger consumer protections, and provisions for emerging technologies

• Telecom Reforms Package 2021 — rationalisation of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), four-year moratorium on dues, removal of bank guarantees, and provisions for equity conversion

• Right-of-Way reforms via Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal — significantly reducing approval timelines and rationalising fees

• National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 — enabling efficient spectrum use and predictable auction cycles

These measures have restored financial stability and improved investor confidence in the sector.

BharatNet: World's Largest Rural Broadband Programme

Highlighting digital inclusion efforts, the Minister noted that BharatNet has emerged as the largest rural broadband initiative globally, aiming to connect over 2.6 lakh Gram Panchayats.

With built-in long-term operation and maintenance frameworks, BharatNet is expected to play a critical role in bridging the rural-urban digital divide and enabling services such as e-governance, telemedicine, and online education.

5G Rollout Achievements Signal Rapid Growth

India's telecom sector has demonstrated remarkable execution capabilities, particularly in the rollout of 5G:

• 5G deployment completed in ~22 months

• Over 5.1 lakh base stations installed

• More than 400 million 5G subscribers

The country now boasts:

• A total subscriber base of over 1.22 billion

• Among the lowest data tariffs globally

• One of the highest per-user data consumption rates

Strong Financial and Investment Indicators

The sector's financial performance reflects its growing strength:

• Gross revenue reached ₹3.72 lakh crore in FY25, marking a 10.7% growth

• FDI inflows exceeded ₹2.4 lakh crore (up to June 2025), indicating strong global investor confidence

These trends position India as one of the most attractive telecom markets globally.

Manufacturing Push Gains Momentum

Dr. Pemmasani highlighted significant progress in domestic telecom manufacturing under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme:

• ₹12,195 crore outlay

• 42 companies approved

• Cumulative sales exceeding ₹65,000 crore

• Exports crossing ₹12,000 crore

Additionally, the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) has supported indigenous R&D projects worth ₹542 crore, strengthening India's innovation ecosystem.

Tackling Digital Fraud and Strengthening Cybersecurity

The Minister detailed India's robust digital security architecture, which has scaled rapidly to counter rising cyber threats:

• Sanchar Saathi platform for citizen protection

• ASTR system has disconnected over 88 lakh fraudulent connections

• Digital Intelligence Platform onboarded over 1,200 organisations

• Chakshu initiative enabling citizen reporting of fraud

• Financial Fraud Risk Indicator preventing losses of approximately ₹2,300 crore

A recent DoT–SEBI MoU further strengthens coordination to combat financial fraud.

He warned that threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and called for:

• Stronger KYC frameworks

• Deployment of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP)

• Improved filtering of spoofed international calls

• Enhanced intelligence sharing between agencies

R&D Gap and the Push for Bharat 6G Vision

Despite strong growth, the Minister flagged a critical gap in research and development (R&D) investment.

While the sector generated ₹3.72 lakh crore in revenue, Indian telecom operators currently spend less than 1% on R&D, compared to 15–25% by global leaders.

He stressed that achieving the Bharat 6G Vision will require:

• Greater private sector investment in innovation

• Stronger academia-industry collaboration

• Focus on indigenous technology development

A Sector at Inflection Point

Concluding his address, Dr. Pemmasani stated that India's telecom sector stands at a historic inflection point, with all key enablers in place:

• Progressive policy framework

• Expanding digital infrastructure

• Skilled talent pool

• Massive market scale

"The opportunity before us is immense. What is needed now is ambition that matches the scale of this opportunity," he said, urging stakeholders to collectively shape India's digital future.

As India prepares for the next technological wave, the convergence of telecom, AI, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing is expected to redefine the country's digital economy—positioning it as a global leader in connectivity, innovation, and digital transformation.