HARNESSING THE 'MADE IN INDIA' POTENTIAL

To become a global supplier of ICT products, the country must strengthen its R&D base and incentivise the manufacturing sector

- TV RAMACHANDRAN

The Indian ICT sector has achieved numerous milestones in recent times. From the world’s most aggressive rollout of 5G in over 500 cities to the successful completion of R&D for India’s stack of 4G and 5G, the sector has been making great strides. Additionally, the launch of a 6G testbed and vision document and the implementation of a unique Production Linked Incentive PLI) initiative to facilitate the growth of a global manufacturing hub are noteworthy accomplishments. Furthermore, the setting up of an electronics manufacturing cluster in Karnataka and aggressive plans for semiconductor chip manufacturing highlights Indias push to become a leader in telecom manufacturing and R&D.

The country has never seen such focused and cohesive policies and actions to meet a longstanding need.

Technology and R&D are driving the global market for telecom equipment which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.9%, up from USD 539 billion in 2021 to USD 919 billion in 2029. While the market is big and growing, India’s share has not been comparable to countries like China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. A report by Indian Cellular and Electronics Association ICEA) and EY indicates that India’s market share in telecom equipment manufacturing is expected to be around 3%-5% of the global market.

With the government taking a slew of initiatives, tremendous opportunities for growth lie ahead for the telecom sector.

THE INDIA STORY