Technology
Scindia sets 1 billion 5G users target by 2030
The Hindu BusinessLine··4d ago
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said India aims to lift 5G users from 550 million to one billion by 2030. He spoke at India Mobile Congress 2026. Broadband customers grew from 60 million in 2017 to over 1.1 billion. Mobile customers stand at 1.35 billion. Data costs fell from Rs 268 per GB in 2014 to Rs 8 now, he said.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Scindia said 1 GB of mobile data now costs Rs 8, down from Rs 268 in 2014.
- BharatNet is meant to give middle-mile links to about 2.65 lakh gram panchayats.
- On-demand connectivity is planned for the remaining 3.8 lakh villages at 100 Mbps when demanded.
What's Happening
- The Bharat 6G Alliance has 90 institutions and 7,700 patents, including 4,400 international ones, he said.
- The ITU Council accepted India's proposal to host the Plenipotentiary Conference in 2030.
- He said mobile phone manufacturing rose from about $2-3 billion in 2014 to a $63 billion industry.
What IMC heard on manufacturing
- Scindia said PLI support brought nearly Rs 1,10,000 crore in incremental sales and Rs 25,000 crore in incremental exports.
- India is the world's second-largest mobile phone producer, with exports close to $29 billion, he said.
- A Telecom Manufacturing Zone is being framed as a plug-and-play site for the sector.
all-news
