INDIA@2047: TELECOM AND TECHNOLOGY AS THE NEW BACKBONE

From 5G scale-up to 6G leadership, India's telecom sector is set to power inclusive growth and global digital sovereignty

- By Mahendra Nahata

AS INDIA MARCHES TOWARD the centenary of its independence in 2047, the foundational narrative of our growth will not be written in concrete and steel alone, but in terabytes per second and near-zero latency. The journey from a nation with less than one phone line per hundred people in the 1990s to a global digital powerhouse has been nothing short of a miracle.

Our telecom industry is no longer a passive supplier but the very architect shaping the 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) vision of our honourable Prime Minister. The path to 2047 is not just about scaling connectivity; it is about establishing India as a global technology sovereign - a nation that designs, develops and deploys the most advanced communication infrastructure in the world.

The 5G Springboard

Today, India's telecom sector stands as one of the world's most dynamic and fiercely competitive markets. The sheer scale of the Indian digital footprint is staggering. The 5G rollout has been one of the fastest globally, with estimates projecting the 5G subscriber base will soar to 770 million by 2028. This transition is vital because 5G is not just faster internet; it is the platform enabling Industry 4.0 applications, smart cities and edge computing.

'Aatmanirbhar' Mandate