Views of Jyotiraditya M. Scindia: “With 6G, the ambition is to lead”

India’s telecom journey has been defined by technological excellence, policy foresight, institutional strength and human-centric governance. Highlighting the key achievements and role of the telecom sector at various industry events, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, noted that the sector is not only serving as an enabler of growth, but as a driver of national confidence and global leadership. Edited excerpts…

India’s telecom journey is one of the most significant transformations of the 21st century, not only for the country but for the world. From manual telephone exchanges to AI-enabled digital highways, India’s telecom evolution mirrors the nation’s broader development trajectory – ambitious, inclusive and increasingly global in its impact.

Telecom as an invisible but foundational revolution

While physical infrastructure such as highways, airports and waterways is visible and celebrated, the more consequential revolution has been digital. India’s digital highway, built through mobile networks, broadband connectivity and data platforms, functions like the arteries of the human body, silently sustaining every aspect of daily life.

From morning to night, nearly every human activity today is seamlessly enabled or enhanced by mobile and telecom services, underscoring their deep integration into modern living.

Scale and affordability as defining features of India’s digital success

With over 1.2 billion mobile users and 1 billion internet users, India stands as one of the largest connected societies in the world. Equally significant is the dramatic drop in costs. Mobile tariffs have declined by 98 per cent over the past 12 years, and data prices have dropped from Rs 287 per GB to around Rs 9 per GB. These figures reflect not just technological advancement but also policy choices that prioritised inclusion, competition and access, ensuring that digital growth translated into meaningful mass empowerment rather than elite privilege.

Telecom as a mirror and multiplier of India’s economic growth

By 2029-30, the communication sector is expected to contribute nearly 20 per cent of India’s gross domestic product, reflecting its centrality to future economic expansion. The statistics that 46 per cent of the world’s digital transactions occur in India reinforces the country’s leadership in digital public infrastructure. Platforms and systems developed within the telecom ecosystem have enabled financial inclusion, digital payments and service delivery at an unprecedented scale.

Security and trust

Indigenous systems such as Astra, CIR, Sanchaar Saathi and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FFRI) have all been launched to build security and trust. The fact that FFRI has been made mandatory by the Reserve Bank of India underscores how telecom innovation directly supports national security and financial stability. This highlights a shift from telecom being seen merely as a connectivity provider to being a guardian of digital trust.

Focus on Atmanirbharta

India’s achievement of developing its own 4G domestic stack has strengthened its self-reliance. Only a handful of countries and companies globally have achieved this capability, placing India in an exclusive club. This milestone is not just technological but strategic, reducing dependence on external vendors and enhancing national resilience. It also sets the foundation for India’s ambitions in future technologies.

6G as a leapfrog opportunity

While India was not a leader in 2G, 3G, or even 4G, it has now entered the elite club of 4G equipment makers and is marching alongside the world in 5G. With 6G, the ambition is to lead. India carries the voice of 17 per cent of the world’s population and represents the second-largest telecom market globally, and thus, can no longer be ignored in global standard-setting bodies such as the ITU and 3GPP.

It is important to look at the entire 6G value chain, spanning technology, spectrum, devices, applications and outreach. On technology, we must push Indian standards to the world. On the spectrum front, a deeper analysis is required to assess how global trends would affect India’s refarming and future spectrum needs. On devices and components, issues such as raw material availability, value chain integration, and the balance between volume and pricing must be addressed.

Global leadership in standards and 6G

For the first time, Indian telecom professionals are actively shaping international standards in bodies such as the ITU, Asia-Pacific forums and 3GPP. While India followed global developments in 4G and marched alongside the world in 5G, India will lead in 6G. This reflects a shift from adoption to authorship in global technology governance.