Date: 2026-04-24Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Minister of State for Communications Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar hails Government-Industry synergy for India’s Telecom Sector Growth in the past decade
**Executive Summary**
The Minister of State for Communications, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, inaugurated the COAI DIGICOM SUMMIT 2026 to highlight the growth of India's telecom sector, which reached a revenue of ₹3.72 lakh crore in FY25. The document outlines major policy reforms, progress in rural broadband via BharatNet, and initiatives to combat digital fraud. A key action item is the urgent call for telecom operators to increase R&D investment to support the Bharat 6G Vision and match global standards.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Policy Reforms and Regulatory Framework**
* The Telecommunications Act, 2023, serves as a comprehensive rewrite of telecom laws, enhancing authorization frameworks and consumer protection.
* The 2021 Reforms Package restored financial viability through rationalized Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), a four-year moratorium on dues, and the removal of bank guarantees.
* The National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 and the Gati Shakti Sanchar portal have streamlined spectrum auctions and Right-of-Way clearances.
* **Infrastructure and Connectivity**
* BharatNet aims to connect over 2.6 lakh Gram Panchayats, making it the world’s largest rural broadband initiative.
* The 5G rollout was completed in 22 months with 5.1 lakh base stations and 400 million subscribers.
* India maintains a subscriber base of over 1.22 billion with some of the lowest global tariffs and highest per-user data consumption.
* **Manufacturing and Economic Growth**
* The PLI Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products has a ₹12,195 crore outlay, with 42 approved companies achieving exports exceeding ₹12,000 crore.
* FDI inflows reached over ₹2.4 lakh crore by June 2025, indicating high investor confidence.
* The Telecom Technology Development Fund has allocated ₹542 crore toward indigenous R&D projects.
* **Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention**
* The ASTR system has disconnected over 88 lakh fraudulent connections.
* The "Chakshu" platform and Digital Intelligence Platform (onboarding 1,200+ organizations) are central to the multi-layered strategy against spam and fraud.
* Financial Fraud Risk Indicators have prevented approximately ₹2,300 crore in losses, supported by a recent DoT–SEBI MoU.
* **Future Technologies and R&D**
* Future growth is focused on 6G, Artificial Intelligence, and Quantum technologies.
* Indian operators currently spend less than 1% of revenue on R&D, significantly lower than the 15–25% spent by global competitors.
**Impact Analysis**
**Telecom Operators**
**Impact**
Operators benefit from rationalized fees, streamlined clearances via the Gati Shakti Sanchar portal, and a predictable spectrum auction timeline. However, they are noted for significantly lagging behind global peers in R&D investment.
**Action Required**
Operators must increase R&D spending to match global standards, strengthen KYC processes, deploy Calling Name Presentation, and enhance intelligence sharing to combat spoofed calls.
**Rural Communities (Gram Panchayats)**
**Impact**
Over 2.6 lakh Gram Panchayats are targeted for high-speed connectivity through the BharatNet initiative, facilitating digital inclusion.
**Action Required**
Local authorities must coordinate with the government for the long-term operation and maintenance of the established broadband infrastructure.
**Manufacturing Companies**
**Impact**
Domestic and international firms under the PLI scheme benefit from a ₹12,195 crore outlay, driving cumulative sales and significant export growth.
**Action Required**
Approved companies need to maintain production levels and continue leveraging the PLI incentives to further boost indigenous manufacturing and exports.
**Citizens/Consumers**
**Impact**
Consumers benefit from the lowest global tariffs and high data availability, alongside a comprehensive protection architecture to shield them from financial fraud and spam.
**Action Required**
Citizens are encouraged to use protection tools like Sanchar Saathi and the Chakshu reporting system to flag fraudulent activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecommunications Act, 2023: A comprehensive rewrite of India’s telecom laws providing new authorization frameworks, consumer protection, and provisions for emerging technologies.
BharatNet: The world's largest rural broadband program aimed at connecting over 2.6 lakh Gram Panchayats across India.
PLI Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products: A production-linked incentive initiative driving indigenous manufacturing, significant exports, and sectoral revenue growth.
Bharat 6G Vision: A strategic roadmap for India to lead in global research and development standards for sixth-generation communication technologies.
Reforms Package of 2021: A major policy initiative that restored financial viability to the telecom sector through AGR rationalization and debt moratoriums.
Ministry of Communications
Minister of State for Communications Dr
Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar hails Government-
Industry synergy for India’s Telecom Sector
Growth in the past decade
Telecom Sector Revenue Hits ₹3.72 Lakh Crore in FY25; MoS
Credits FDI Growth and PLI Success for Strengthening
Indigenous Manufacturing
Over 2.6 Lakh Gram Panchayats to be Connected in World’s
Largest Rural Broadband Initiative: Dr Pemmasani
From ‘Chakshu’ to Institutional Intelligence: MoS Outlines
Multi-Layered Strategy to Shield Citizens from Spam and
Financial Fraud
India’s Digital Transformation: MoS Dr Pemmasani Outlines a
Future Powered by 6G, AI, and Quantum Technologies
MoS Dr Pemmasani Urges Telecom Operators to Match
Global R&D Standards to Lead Bharat 6G Vision
Posted On: 24 APR 2026 1:33PM by PIB Delhi
Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar,
inaugurated the second edition of the COAI DIGICOM SUMMIT 2026 in Delhi today. The summit is
themed “India’s Techade: Accelerating and Shaping the Digital Future.” Speaking at the event, he said that
India has come a long way and that the changes in the telecom sector have been transformative. He noted
that technology is not standing still and that 6G, Artificial Intelligence and Quantum represent the next
wave, which is both exciting and challenging. Emphasising collaboration, he stated that a strong telecom
sector is built by both Government and industry.Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development,
inaugurates and addresses the COAI DIGICOM SUMMIT 2026
In his address, Dr Pemmasani highlighted that under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government
has re-engineered nearly every major lever of telecom policy. The Telecommunications Act, 2023 marks
the first comprehensive rewrite of India’s telecom law in nearly 140 years, providing clear authorisation
frameworks, stronger consumer protection and provisions for emerging technologies. The Reforms
Package of 2021 restored predictability for financial viability through rationalised AGR, a four-year
moratorium on past dues, removal of bank guarantees and a path to equity conversion. Right-of-Way
reforms through the Gati Shakti Sanchar portal have rationalised fees and streamlined clearances, reducing
timelines significantly. Spectrum rationalisation has been undertaken through the National Frequency
Allocation Plan 2025 and predictable auction timelines.
He also highlighted that India’s BharatNet is the largest rural broadband programme anywhere in the
world and aims to connect over 2.6 lakh Gram Panchayats, with long-term operation and maintenance
built in. Citizen protection architecture comprising Sanchar Saathi, Digital Intelligence Platform, Chakshu
and ASTR has also been established at a massive scale, which is the most comprehensive policy support
architecture that the telecom sector has received in its history.
Recognising industry contributions, the Minister of State noted that the 5G rollout was completed in
roughly 22 months with over 5.1 lakh base stations and more than 400 million subscribers. India has a
subscriber base of over 1.22 billion, among the lowest tariffs globally and among the highest per-user data
consumption. Sectoral gross revenue grew by 10.7% in FY25 to ₹3.72 lakh crore, while FDI inflows of
over ₹2.4 lakh crore up to June 2025 indicate strong foreign capital confidence.Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar interacting with dignitaries of TRAI, COAI, industry representatives and
other participants at COAI DIGICOM SUMMIT 2026
On manufacturing, the Minister highlighted progress under the PLI Scheme for Telecom and Networking
Products with ₹12,195 crore outlay, 42 companies approved, cumulative sales exceeding ₹65,000 crore
and exports over ₹12,000 crore. The Telecom Technology Development Fund has supported indigenous
R&D with projects worth ₹542 crore.
Addressing spam and digital fraud, the Minister outlined measures including Sanchar Saathi, ASTR
disconnecting over 88 lakh fraudulent connections, Chakshu reporting growth and the Digital Intelligence
Platform onboarding over 1,200 organisations. The Financial Fraud Risk Indicator has prevented
approximately ₹2,300 crore in losses, and a DoT–SEBI MoU was signed recently. He noted the increasing
sophistication of threats and called for strengthened KYC, deployment of Calling Name Presentation,
improved filtering of spoofed international calls and enhanced intelligence sharing.
On research and development (R&D), the Minister observed that while the telecom sector generated ₹3.72
lakh crore in FY25, Indian operators spend less than 1% of their revenue on R&D, compared to 15–25%
by global majors. He emphasised that the Bharat 6G Vision requires greater industry participation in
R&D.
The Minister concluded that India is at an inflection point, with policy support, infrastructure, talent and
scale in place, and called for ambition to match the opportunity.
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