Scindia also mentioned that 100 5G labs have been established across the country
In an era where information and innovation shape global progress, India is emerging not just as a producer but as a key innovator, aiming to lead the 6G revolution by contributing 10% of global patents, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said at Bharat Telecom 2025 on Tuesday.
“Our ambition for 6G is clear, we aim to contribute 10% of the global patents through platforms like 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and ITU (International Telecommunication Union). India is no longer just a consumer of technology, we are now a producer and an innovator,” said the Telecom Minister.
“We followed the world in 4G, kept pace with the world in 5G, and I guarantee you, India will lead the world in 6G. In just 22 months, 99% of our villages have been connected with 5G, reaching 82% of our population. Over 470,000 towers have been installed, backed by nearly Rs 4 lakh crore in investments from our telecom companies, that’s approximately $50 billion. This marks a monumental phase in India’s 5G revolution,” he added.
Scindia also mentioned that 100 5G labs have been established across the country.
He also cited data points related to the telecom equipment that has significantly grown over the years.
“Our telecom equipment exports have also grown significantly from ₹8,500 crore to nearly Rs 20,000 crore (around $3 billion). This growth has been powered by India’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore (around half a billion dollars) has translated into sales worth Rs 80,000 crore nearly $10 billion. Exports have touched Rs 16,000 crore (around $2 billion), and over 25,000 direct jobs have been created as a result,” said Scindia.
He also highlighted that India became the second-largest telecom market globally, and achieved the distinction of being the world’s most affordable data market as well.
“Today, data in India costs just 11 cents per GB making us the cheapest data market in the world. In comparison, the global average stands at $2.11 per GB. That means Indian data costs are just 5% of the global average,” he said.
The Telecom Minister also informed that India is now the fifth country in the world, after China, Korea, Sweden, and Finland, to build a fully indigenous 4G stack.
“We are no longer just manufacturing for the world, we are designing, developing, and delivering for the world. As our Prime Minister has said, this is not just 'Make in India', but 'Make in India for the world'. That is the cornerstone of our approach,” Scindia added.