Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia underscored the rapid advancements in India’s telecom sector, proposing the establishment of a dedicated telecom manufacturing zone modelled after Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Speaking in an interview, he detailed the government’s achievements and future plans, including the rollout of BSNL’s 4G and 5G systems and boosting indigenous telecom manufacturing.
Indigenous 4G Development
Scindia highlighted the government’s decision to develop an indigenous 4G system for BSNL instead of relying on foreign technology.
“We had two options: using foreign equipment or creating a solution from scratch with Indian companies. We chose the challenging path,” Scindia said.
India has now become the fifth country in the world with its own 4G system. The indigenous solution was developed by C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics) and Tejas Networks, under Tata Group, with TCS serving as a system integrator. Scindia confirmed plans to roll out one lakh BSNL towers by April-May 2024, enabling the transition to 5G technology through software and hardware upgrades.
Push for Telecom Manufacturing Zone
The minister proposed the creation of a dedicated telecom manufacturing zone to complement the growth in domestic telecom infrastructure, mirroring SEZ models.
“After the rollout of 4G and 5G systems, the next step is a telecom manufacturing zone to make India a hub for telecom production,” he said.
Success of PLI Schemes
Scindia attributed the telecom sector’s growth to the success of productivity-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, which have supported 42 companies and generated significant investments and jobs.
- Investments: ₹4,000 crore
- Revenue Generated: ₹65,000 crore
- Exports: ₹13,800 crore
- Jobs Created: 25,000
India’s Mobile Manufacturing Boom
India’s mobile phone manufacturing industry has seen exponential growth, producing 33 crore units annually compared to 5 crore units earlier, making it the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer globally.
“Under PM Modi’s leadership, India has transitioned from importing 90% of mobile phones to becoming a global manufacturing leader,” Scindia remarked.
Vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat
Scindia emphasized that these achievements align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). The government’s focus on indigenous innovation and infrastructure is paving the way for India’s telecom sector to compete on a global scale.