The 7th Edition of the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023, the largest telecom, media, and technology forum in India, has garnered an overwhelming response from industry stakeholders.
The event, jointly organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), is currently taking place in New Delhi, showcasing the latest in telecommunications and technology.
The IMC 2023 was inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and witnessed a gathering of over 7,000 people during the inaugural ceremoney. This year’s theme, “Global Digital Innovation,” has brought together leading companies to present their solutions and products, marking a significant step in India’s journey towards digital transformation.
Key Highlights from IMC 2023:
100 5G Labs Initiative: A prominent highlight is the “100 5G labs initiative,” aimed at fostering innovation across sectors such as education, agriculture, health, power, and transportation, propelling India to the forefront of 5G technology adoption. It also marks a pivotal step in building a 6G-ready academic and start-up ecosystem.
India’s 5G Progress: Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s transition from the 5G rollout stage to the 5G reach-out stage. The country now boasts 4 lakh 5G base stations, covering more than 97 percent of cities and 80 percent of the population. Mobile broadband speeds have increased threefold within a year, and India has moved from the 118th position to the 43rd position in broadband speed rankings.
Industry Leaders’ Vision: Prominent industry leaders voiced their visions for India’s technological future. Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio, expressed the desire to unite and inspire 1.4 billion Indians toward a prosperous, technologically advanced, and harmonious nation. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, highlighted India’s growth in manufacturing, especially in digital infrastructure.
Telecom Networks and Fair Share: S.P. Kochhar, DG of COAI, stressed the importance of robust and sustainable telecom networks. He called for affordable devices to enable 5G applications and sought a fair share from companies benefiting from network use but not contributing, affecting the returns on telecom companies’ investments.
Cybersecurity: M. U. Nair, National Cybersecurity Coordinator, Government of India, emphasized the significance of cybersecurity in a network-driven digital landscape. With services increasingly available online, addressing threats has become essential to both citizen safety and national security.
5G Transformation: Ludvig Landgren, Head of Cloud Software and Services at Ericsson, pointed out that 5G has transformed India’s telecommunications landscape, making it accessible and driving massive deployment. With 100 million 5G subscribers in just one year, India has achieved a milestone, and an additional 30 million Indians are expected to gain access to 5G by the end of 2023.
Telecom Sector Skill Gap: Arvind Bali, CEO of the Telecom Sector Skill Council, revealed a significant demand-supply gap of 2.4 million skilled workers in the Indian telecom sector, necessitating extensive reskilling, upskilling, and recruitment efforts.
MediaTek’s Commitment: Anku Jain, Managing Director of MediaTek India, aligned the company’s commitment with the central theme of IMC 2023, “Global Digital Innovation.” MediaTek showcased advancements in smartphones, smart devices, 5G technology, satellite connectivity, automotive platforms, and collaborations with key telecom players.
The Indian Mobile Congress 2023 is a testament to India’s rapidly evolving digital landscape and its aspirations to lead the way in technology and innovation.
