India creates 36,000 telecom jobs under PLI, unveils first Telecom Manufacturing Zone

India's telecom equipment manufacturing push has created 36,000 jobs under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, according to Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. He also announced the country's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

Speaking at the curtain raiser for India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, Scindia said the government wants India to evolve from a service-led economy into a product-led technology hub by strengthening domestic telecom manufacturing and expanding next-generation digital infrastructure.

PLI scheme delivers jobs and investment

According to Scindia, the telecom equipment PLI scheme has delivered investment, production and employment since its launch.

He shared the following figures:

• 36,000 jobs created in the telecom manufacturing sector.
• ₹6,000 crore in investments.
• ₹1.2 lakh crore in sales.
• ₹25,600 crore in exports.

Scindia said these outcomes demonstrate the progress made in building a stronger domestic manufacturing ecosystem for telecom equipment.

First Telecom Manufacturing Zone to come up in Gwalior

The minister announced India's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone will be established in Gwalior, with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Government of Madhya Pradesh signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the Phase I project.

According to Scindia, the zone will operate as a dedicated ecosystem for:

• Telecom equipment manufacturers.
• Data centres.
• Chip manufacturers.

He said the facility will offer a plug-and-play ecosystem, bringing together support from both the central and state governments to accelerate manufacturing and innovation.

Scindia described the initiative as a new chapter for India's telecom industry, saying the world has long known about Special Economic Zones and will now hear about Telecom Manufacturing Zones.

5G rollout reaches 50 crore users

Scindia also highlighted the pace of India's 5G deployment, describing it as one of the fastest network rollouts globally.

According to the minister:

• Nearly 50 crore people are already connected to 5G.
• The rollout has been completed in two and a half years.
• The deployment involved ₹4.5 lakh crore in capital expenditure.
• More than 5 lakh 5G towers have been installed across the country.
• The government aims to connect 100 crore people to 5G by 2030.

India's nationwide 5G rollout has been led by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, followed by Vodafone Idea (Vi). State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is also expected to begin commercial 5G services.

Government outlines next phase of digital growth

Scindia said India has reached a stage where technology is creating opportunities for citizens while driving economic transformation.

He noted that 1.33 billion mobile phone connections are now active across the country and said mobile data prices have declined from ₹287 per GB to about ₹8 per GB, making digital services more accessible.

Looking ahead, he said India is preparing for the next generation of communications technologies through the Bharat 6G Alliance, alongside work on global technology standards and manufacturing capabilities.

Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Chandrasekhar Pemmasani said the government's focus has shifted from expanding mobile connectivity to ensuring high-speed broadband reaches every part of the country through initiatives such as BharatNet and 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).

He added that the government wants the next decade to move from Digital India to Intelligent India, supported by investments in 6G, artificial intelligence, quantum communications, satellite technologies and other emerging technologies.

India Mobile Congress to showcase future technologies

Scindia also unveiled "Scale Without Boundaries" as the theme for the tenth edition of India Mobile Congress 2026.

Organised by the Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the event is scheduled to take place from October 7 to 10, 2026, at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi.

According to the organisers, the event is expected to:

• Attract more than 1.5 lakh attendees.
• Feature over 300 exhibitors and partners from more than 100 countries.
• Showcase more than 1,500 technology use cases across sectors including 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, cybersecurity, satellite communications, DeepTech, CleanTech and Industry 4.0.

The government's latest announcements signal a continued focus on expanding telecom manufacturing alongside digital infrastructure, with employment, technology development and domestic production positioned as central pillars of India's telecom strategy.