“…it’s time to make India a global hub for (undertaking) design, development and manufacturing of telecom equipment,” Modi said speaking at a India Mobile Congress virtual event Tuesday. He also expressed optimism that India was on course to ring in the timely rollout of 5G networks and services, though he did not reveal specifics.
KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the telecom industry to strive towards making India a global hub for network gear design, development and manufacturing by leveraging the near Rs 12,200 crore of sops recently approved by the government under the production-linked incentive (PLI) policy for telecom equipment.
“…it’s time to make India a global hub for (undertaking) design, development and manufacturing of telecom equipment,” Modi said speaking at a India Mobile Congress virtual event Tuesday. He also expressed optimism that India was on course to ring in the timely rollout of 5G networks and services, though he did not reveal specifics.
Last month, the Cabinet cleared the PLI policy for telecom gear that is slated to result in Rs 2 lakh-crore of production over the next five years, and also speed up India’s emergence as a global 5G gear manufacturing hub, boost network gear exports and create a robust components ecosystem. The government, though, is yet to clear the air on the timing of India’s much awaited maiden 5G spectrum sale or the bands likely to be on offer.
The prime minister said India was on its way to becoming a vibrant mobile apps market for the world, and called on India’s brightest tech minds “to have conviction” in their creativity and work, something that was essential for "young startups aspiring to be unicorns someday".
“The valuation of a mobile app developer in just a few years can surpass that of entrenched companies that have been present for decades, which is why, India, with its wealth of creative talent, is on track to become the mobile app market for the world,” Modi said at the marquee telecom industry event.
Underlining the power of mobility and wireless broadband to keep the wheels of industry running amid a raging pandemic, Modi said “the power of mobile technology would also be at the heart of the upcoming national Covid19 vaccination program,” that would be set in motion shortly.
The PM also underlined the government’s resolve to boost countrywide internet penetration via the wired broadband route, and called on the telecom industry to boost proliferation of WiFi hotspots. The government, he said, had already set a goal of providing high-speed fibre-based broadband connectivity to every village in the next 3 years.
Prime Minister Modi also urged industry to set up a task force to come up with suggestions on ways to curb electronic waste.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/imc-2020-pm-modi-makes-strong-pitch-to-make-india-a-global-hub-for-telecom-gear-design-development-and-manufacturing/articleshow/79620704.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst