India Sets Sights on One Billion 5G Subscribers by 2030, IMC 2026 Highlights Next-Gen Networks
At India Mobile Congress 2026, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said India aims to grow its 5G user base from 550 million to 1 billion by 2030. The four-day event is expected to draw more than 150,000 attendees and feature over 2,000 technology use cases across 5G, 6G, satellite, AI, semiconductors, and cybersecurity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed domestic innovation, including core intellectual property and semiconductor manufacturing, as part of building a sovereign digital ecosystem.
If the one-billion target is met, more Indians in rural and underserved areas could gain easier access to digital services, education, payments and enterprise tools. Operators and equipment makers may face pressure to invest while keeping devices and data affordable. Startups and semiconductor firms could benefit from domestic innovation push, though uneven coverage or cost barriers may leave some communities behind. The social effect will likely depend on how widely and affordably networks, devices and skills reach users. Count: If(1) the(2) one-billion(3) target(4) is(5) met,(6) more(7) Indians(8) in(9) rural(10) and(11) underserved(12) areas(13) could(14) gain(15) easier(16) access(17) to(18) digital(19) services,(20) education,(21) payments(22) and(23) enterprise(24) tools.(25) Operators(26) and(27) equipment(28) makers(29) may(30) face(31) pressure(32) to(33) invest(34) while(35) keeping(36) devices(37) and(38) data(39) affordable.(40) Startups(41) and(42) semiconductor(43) firms