Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, shared his thoughts on India’s digital and telecommunications journey while speaking at the India Mobile Congress 2024. The nation’s rapid technological advancement, propelled by visionary leadership, has made it a digital power on the global stage, he said. Following are the major takeaways from his address.
In 2015, “Digital India”, a key pillar of governance, was introduced, for it to be a guiding light for all citizens, irrespective of their socio-economic background. This initiative triggered a technology-led revolution, leading to rapid smartphone adoption across urban and rural areas. Within two years, millions of Indians started using smartphones and the internet, and services like digital banking, telemedicine, and e-learning started to proliferate. This started an entrepreneurial wave with the founding of several startups and some of them became unicorns. It has gone a long way to making India a hub for innovation that has attracted large amounts of global investment.
India has become a leading telecom manufacturing hub, thanks to the focus on reducing dependence on imported telecom equipment that was worth some $500 billion at that time. Towards this end, Indian entrepreneurs and global corporations were called to set up manufacturing facilities in the country which culminated in the productivity-linked incentive (PLI) program. The initiative has boosted manufacturing and positioned India as a significant player in the global telecom supply chain.
In addition, the national security measures for telecom equipment are quite stringent. The National Security Council has been most rigorous in examining every product and component that enters into the Indian telecom network. It also strengthens the nation’s commitment to creating a robust, self-reliant telecom infrastructure, while giving primacy to trusted sources and products which also helps in enhancing national security.
One of the biggest achievements of India is the rapid deployment of 5G technology. The government recognized the potential of 5G and urged telecom operators and the Department of Telecom to speed up the rollout. Therefore, India managed to start one of the world’s fastest 5G networks in cities and villages alike. Over the next 12 to 18 months, almost all of India will have access to 5G, transforming connectivity across the country.
5G is expected to enable advanced digital services in many sectors including healthcare, education, and agriculture. For example, telemedicine can be of benefit to rural communities and smart agriculture tools can help farmers increase productivity. 5G deployment is India’s commitment to digital inclusion and helps the country emerge as a leader in next-generation connectivity.
A key government priority is to make India a hub for semiconductor manufacturing, and looking ahead, there are ambitious plans to do so. Strategic alliances have been formed with countries such as the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Taiwan to attract semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and initiatives have been introduced. These partnerships, investment, and expertise are expected to be brought to bear in helping the country make the journey towards becoming self-sufficient in semiconductors.
India’s technological independence requires a domestic semiconductor industry. Locally producing semiconductors allows the country to become less dependent on imports, secure supply chains, and improve its standing in high-tech sectors such as AI, IoT, and advanced computing. This strategic outlook is as important for India’s destiny in the digital domain as it is a defining factor for the country’s place in the global technology ecosystem.
The other area of focus is the opening of India’s space sector to private investment. The space industry which has been predominantly led by the public sector is now seeing private entities entering the field and bringing innovation and investment. Innovations such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks will focus on increasing connectivity in remote and underserved regions through the government’s emphasis.
LEO satellite networks play a crucial role in enabling high-speed internet services to be extended to remote areas where traditional terrestrial networks cannot reach — mountainous regions and deep rural areas. These satellite networks will provide support to existing telecom infrastructure to achieve universal connectivity. This will help close the digital gap so that every citizen even in the remotest of places can avail reliable internet services.
Satellite companies planning to enter urban markets should be held to the same requirements as telecom operators. It means acquiring licenses, buying spectrum, and paying license fees, hence making it a level playing field for everyone in the industry.
The need for securing networks to protect consumers is paramount. Proactive measures such as blocking spam calls and messages show that there is a commitment to provide security for the users. This is in line with the government’s vision for a safe digital infrastructure, where the users can avail digital services securely.
