India Mobile Congress opens with focus on scaling digital innovation globally
The tenth India Mobile Congress began October 7 in New Delhi, running through October 10 at the Yashobhoomi convention center with over 150,000 attendees and representatives from 100+ countries. The event carries the theme "Scale Without Boundaries" and covers four pillars including innovation in 6G, AI-native networks, quantum communications and semiconductors. A new memorandum of understanding between IMC and GSMA aims to deepen international participation and accelerate the move from experimental technologies toward large-scale real-world deployment.
The congress brings together a diverse ecosystem spanning telecom operators, infrastructure companies, startups, academic institutions and government bodies to address the evolution of digital networks. The event's four thematic pillars—Srishti (innovation), Samvardhan (growth), Sashakt (opportunity) and Suraksha (trust)—create a structured framework for examining technologies from early-stage development through commercialization to security and sustainability considerations. This multidimensional approach reflects the complexity of modernizing global telecom infrastructure while managing economic, environmental and regulatory dimensions simultaneously.
The new partnership between IMC and the GSMA signals an effort to strengthen India's position within international telecom governance and standard-setting processes. By facilitating knowledge exchange among global stakeholders and positioning emerging technologies for broader deployment, the congress may help accelerate transitions from research phases to practical applications affecting billions of network users worldwide.
The outcomes and partnerships formed at IMC could influence how 6G standards develop, how nations adopt AI-native network architectures, and how quantum communications integrate into telecom infrastructure. Participants from over 100 countries suggest potential for coordinating global telecom strategy, which may affect connectivity access, network security practices and technology investment priorities across regions. Conversely, attendees' decisions on sustainability and responsible AI governance frameworks could shape how digital infrastructure expansion balances innovation against environmental and social considerations.