India’s telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has unveiled the theme ‘Innovate to Transform’ for the 9th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025.
IMC 2025, the largest telecom event in India, will be held from October 8-11, 2025 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi.
India’s Bold Vision for the Digital Future
The statements from Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and DoT Secretary Neeraj Mittal reflect a clear policy direction: India is determined to not just participate in but lead the global digital revolution. With ambitions of becoming a 6G superpower, the focus on self-reliance, as demonstrated by the development of the domestic 4G stack and the ‘DSS’ approach — Design, Solve, Scale — shows an intent to break dependence on foreign technologies and foster homegrown innovation.
This vision is bolstered by India’s strong patent filings in 6G and an ecosystem that is increasingly geared towards R&D, manufacturing, and deployment of advanced telecom technologies. The Sanchar Mitra Scheme, launched alongside the IMC announcement, reflects a bottom-up approach — engaging the youth as digital ambassadors to bridge the gap between technology and the people, and fostering job-readiness in cutting-edge telecom domains.
IMC 2025: From Showcase to Catalyst
IMC 2025 aims to go beyond being a mere exhibition platform. The inclusion of over 400 exhibitors, 500 startups through the ASPIRE program, and a massive participation of 1.5 lakh visitors from 150+ countries is testament to the scale of the event. The presence of 7,000 global delegates and 800+ speakers across 100 sessions underscores IMC’s role as a knowledge-sharing and policy-shaping forum.
The focus on startups — with dedicated mentorship, pitching sessions, and networking opportunities — positions IMC as an important node in the innovation ecosystem, connecting innovators with investors, policymakers, and industry leaders. This approach could accelerate the commercialization of ideas, helping India translate its technological capabilities into tangible economic and social impact.
Beyond Telecom: IMC’s Expanding Horizons
Dr. Mittal’s emphasis on broadening IMC’s scope beyond traditional telecom to encompass horizontal technologies like AI, IoT, green tech, and electronics manufacturing reflects an understanding that connectivity is the foundation, but integration across sectors is the future. The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Telecom Excellence Awards 2024 further highlights the cross-sectoral impact of telecom innovations—spanning agriculture, healthcare, education, and commerce—emphasizing the role of telecom as an enabler of inclusive growth.
Challenges Ahead
While the ambitions are high, the path is not without challenges. Building resilient supply chains, ensuring cybersecurity, addressing data privacy concerns, and fostering affordable access remain critical issues. Additionally, as India positions itself as a 6G pioneer, it must navigate the complexities of global standardization, intellectual property rights, and geopolitical considerations.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
