The government has called on telecom operators and equipment makers to shift toward design-led manufacturing and deeper research and development as India prepares for the next phase of connectivity, including 6G.

Speaking at the COAI DigiCom Summit 2026, minister of state for communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said India’s telecom sector is at an “inflection point”, driven by policy support and sustained industry investment.

“India’s telecom sector stands at an inflection point, shaped by strong Government policy support and industry-led investments,” he said, adding that the next phase of growth must focus on design-led manufacturing, intellectual property creation and global standard-setting.

The minister urged industry players to “focus on design-led manufacturing, build export-grade testing and certification facilities, and form joint ventures with global technology leaders for design, IP and talent development,” as technologies such as artificial intelligence, 6G and quantum communications evolve.

From rapid 5G rollout to 6G readiness

The push comes after one of the fastest 5G rollouts globally, with the minister noting that networks were deployed across India in just 22 months. The focus is now shifting from scale to capability, as the country looks to position itself in the global 6G ecosystem.

Industry leaders said the transition will require alignment on standards, spectrum strategy and ecosystem development.

Abhijit Kishore, CEO of Vodafone Idea and chairperson of COAI, said “policy certainty and regulatory stability remain critical,” noting that long-term infrastructure investments require a predictable framework that recognises the capital-intensive nature of the sector.

Regulatory focus on scale, quality and consumer protection

Telecom regulator TRAI said India’s network expansion over the past decade has been driven by a combination of progressive policy and industry investment.

Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said, “India’s telecom sector has… delivered connectivity at a scale and affordability that is globally unparalleled,” adding that the focus is now shifting to ubiquitous coverage and quality of service.

He said ongoing efforts include spectrum enhancements, frameworks for indoor connectivity, and the use of artificial intelligence for spam prevention to strengthen consumer protection and network resilience.

Digital gap, infrastructure remain key challenges

While India has made rapid progress in building telecom infrastructure, challenges remain around inclusion and ecosystem readiness.

Julian Gorman, head of APAC at GSMA, said “for 6G leadership to be credible, 5G must evolve beyond consumer speeds into an engine of industry transformation,” adding that nearly 47% of the population remains offline, highlighting the need to bridge the usage gap.

Speakers at the summit also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping next-generation telecom networks, with a focus on building secure, resilient and intelligent infrastructure.

Industry executives said future growth will depend on collaboration between government, regulators and private players, as telecom evolves into a foundational layer supporting sectors such as finance, healthcare and digital public infrastructure.

The discussions stress a broader shift in India’s telecom strategy—from rapid deployment to innovation, design and global competitiveness—as the country prepares for the 6G era.