DoT calls for telecom PLI expansion

India has achieved 60% import substitution in products under this scheme

- SUBHAYAN CHAKRABORTY

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is pushing for an expansion of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for telecom equipment and network products to further localise the manufacturing of key equipment and quickly capture the export demand for 4G and 5G gears.

An expanded PLI will be a key ask for the DoT during the upcoming pre-Budget inter-ministerial consultations, set to begin soon, officials said, adding that the scheme has to be updated to attract fresh funding.

As of September end, the 42 PLI beneficiaries have already invested ₹3,925 crore of the 4,115 crore they had initially committed. A total of 24,980 jobs have been created out of the promised 44,000, and the DoT aims for higher job numbers as part of a revamped scheme, officials said.