New Delhi: Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar on Friday said India is on track to reach 1 billion 5G users by 2031.
Speaking at the ET Telecom 5G Summit in New Delhi, he highlighted India’s rapid progress in the telecom sector and said the country has the potential to emerge as a global leader in 5G and upcoming 6G technologies.
Highlighting the sector’s transformation, Sekhar said policy interventions over the past few years have significantly improved the operating environment for telecom companies, unlocking investments in next-generation infrastructure.
Reforms in areas such as revenue calculations, spectrum-related charges, and compliance requirements have reduced financial stress and enabled faster rollout of 5G services across the country, according to an official statement.
Beyond policy changes, the government has focused on execution by streamlining approvals, easing right-of-way processes, and simplifying licensing norms. This, combined with better coordination among stakeholders, has helped accelerate network expansion and improve service delivery, particularly in underserved regions.
The minister stressed that governance within the telecom sector is increasingly becoming outcome-driven, with greater emphasis on speed, accountability, and real-time problem-solving. Continuous engagement with service providers, startups, and state authorities has enabled quicker resolution of bottlenecks related to infrastructure deployment and connectivity gaps.
Rural connectivity remains a key priority, with tens of thousands of remote villages being brought under 4G coverage. Public sector operator BSNL has played a central role in strengthening infrastructure in these areas, alongside efforts to improve network reliability and uptime.
He also pointed to the scale of the BharatNet programme, under which the government is investing heavily to connect lakhs of gram panchayats with high-speed broadband. The initiative is expected to form the backbone for future digital services, including 5G and beyond.
Looking ahead, India is aiming to secure a meaningful share in global 6G development, including participation in international standard-setting processes such as those led by 3GPP. The minister said early involvement in such frameworks is crucial for both technological leadership and economic gains.
Citing global examples, he noted that countries that actively contributed to telecom standards in earlier generations saw their domestic companies emerge as global players. India is now seeking to replicate that trajectory through stronger industry participation and innovation.
The government is also working to build a more supportive ecosystem for startups and manufacturers by easing regulatory pathways and shortening approval timelines. Alongside this, efforts are underway to enhance service quality, strengthen network monitoring systems, and bolster telecom security frameworks.
Underscoring the broader shift, the minister said India is moving beyond being just a large telecom market to becoming a creator of technology, driven by collaboration between industry, policymakers, and innovators.
