New Delhi, April 24, 2026: Telecom Sector in India must transition from being a technology consumer to a global innovation leader, Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said while addressing the COAI DigiCom Summit 2026.

Push for Design-Led Innovation in Telecom Sector in India

Telecom Sector in India needs a strategic shift toward design-led manufacturing and higher investment in research and development (R&D), the minister emphasized. He highlighted that without building strong intellectual property (IP), patents, and testing ecosystems, India risks lagging behind global telecom leaders.

The government has been consistently supporting the telecom industry, but the responsibility of innovation now lies equally with private players.

Low R&D Investment a Major Concern

A key issue raised was the low level of R&D spending in the Telecom Sector in India. Domestic telecom companies currently invest less than 1% of their revenue in R&D.

In contrast, global giants like Nokia and Ericsson invest between 15% and 25% of their revenues in innovation.

The minister warned that without increasing R&D investment, India may fall behind in emerging technologies like AI-native networks and 6G.

Focus on Emerging Technologies and Global Standards

To strengthen the Telecom Sector in India, Sekhar stressed the importance of active participation in:

AI-RAN (Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Networks)
Edge computing
Global telecom standard-setting bodies

He noted that contributing to global standards is critical for India to become a technology leader rather than just a follower.

Rising Cyber Threats in Telecom Landscape

The minister also highlighted growing risks in the Telecom Sector in India, including:

AI-generated scams
Deepfake content
Voice cloning fraud
International spoofing

He stressed that these threats are increasing rapidly and require stronger telecom-level interventions such as stricter KYC norms and advanced filtering of international calls.

Government Support and Policy Reforms

The Telecom Sector in India has seen significant growth due to strong collaboration between the government and industry. Key initiatives include:

Telecom reforms and policy overhaul
Spectrum rationalisation
Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes
Nationwide connectivity projects like BharatNet

These reforms have created a strong foundation for future growth.

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Need for Global Partnerships and Infrastructure

The minister urged telecom companies to form joint ventures with global technology leaders and build export-oriented testing infrastructure. This will help India gain access to advanced engineering capabilities and improve global competitiveness.

Moving toward design-led manufacturing will also boost innovation and reduce dependency on foreign technologies.

Telecom Sector in India is at a crucial turning point. With the right mix of policy support, innovation, and industry participation, India has the potential to lead in next-generation technologies like AI-driven networks and 6G.

As Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar stated, the decisions made in this decade will shape the next 30–50 years. The focus must now be on innovation, R&D, and global leadership.