India Mobile Congress 2025 Gathers Momentum with Startup and Developer-Focused Initiatives
Bengaluru Roadshow Highlights Strategic Vision for IMC 2025
As the countdown begins for India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) have intensified engagement with innovators and tech leaders. A significant milestone in this journey was marked by a Bengaluru roadshow—a prelude to Asia’s largest digital technology forum, which is set to be held in October 2025.
The event, organised alongside TiE Bangalore’s Matrix Global Summit 2025, spotlighted Bengaluru’s role as a pivotal launchpad in India's digital ecosystem. The summit focused on deep-tech advancements, including Generative AI, blockchain, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability.
Empowering Innovation: ASPIRE, Startup World Cup, and API Hackathon
IMC 2025 is designed around a strong innovation framework, with flagship programs like:
-
ASPIRE Programme: A strategic initiative to connect over 500 startups with global venture capitalists, incubators, mentors, and corporate partners.
-
Startup World Cup India 2025: A national-scale competition offering high-stakes visibility and investment opportunities for high-growth startups.
-
Open API Hackathon: In collaboration with the GSMA Open Gateway Initiative, this event invites developers to build solutions using real telecom network APIs for sectors like fintech, mobility, and logistics.
Government’s Digital Commitment: Expanding BharatNet & Telecom Vision
During the Bengaluru event, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Communications & Rural Development, reaffirmed India’s progress in digital connectivity.
-
1.2 billion mobile users
-
1 billion broadband connections
-
2.2 lakh villages connected via BharatNet
He announced a $18 billion investment to extend high-speed connectivity to 40,000 additional gram panchayats and 1.5 crore rural households. Emphasizing India’s transformation from a major importer to a global exporter of telecom hardware, he stated:
“From importing 75% of our mobile devices, we now export over ₹1.8 trillion worth annually. This is a shift from ‘Made for India’ to ‘Made by India’.”
6G Ambitions and Policy Support for Startups
Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), Ministry of Communications, laid out India’s aspirations in telecom leadership:
“India lagged in 4G, moved alongside the world in 5G, and aims to lead in 6G.”
He highlighted the government’s supportive ecosystem, including risk-mitigation tools like the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF), which fosters indigenous innovation in a sector often controlled by global standards bodies.
COAI’s Vision: Tech for Transformation
Abhijit Kishore, Chairman of COAI, reflected on the transformative power of technology and the IMC 2025 theme, “Innovate to Transform”. He emphasized that the platform is not only about telecom but about tech-enabled progress across industries, borders, and communities.
India Mobile Congress 2025: A Gateway for Global Collaboration
With its startup competitions, developer challenges, and international partnerships, IMC 2025 is more than a telecom conference—it is a convergence point for India’s digital future, where innovation meets opportunity.
The roadshow in Bengaluru has set the tone for what promises to be a landmark event in October, aimed at catalyzing India’s transition to a global tech and telecom hub.
Comments
Post a Comment