Is India Mobile Congress Truly Promoting Indigenisation in Telecom?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- IMC serves as a vital platform for telecom innovation.
- AI is transforming network operations in telecom.
- The government is focusing on policies that enhance the ecosystem.
- India's indigenous 4G stack is operational at over 97,000 sites.
- Next phases involve significant emphasis on product design.
New Delhi, Oct 10 (NationPress) Vimal Kumar, the Vice President and Global Head of Network Solutions and Services at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), stated on Friday that the India Mobile Congress (IMC) serves as an exceptional platform that fosters innovation and indigenisation within the telecom sector.
While conversing with IANS on the third day of 'IMC 2025', Kumar remarked, "This event is remarkable, attracting a substantial number of attendees. I express my gratitude to the Department of Telecommunications and the Government of India for hosting it. The event is instrumental in promoting innovation and indigenisation in India's telecom landscape."
When asked about the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the senior TCS executive elaborated that AI holds a pivotal role across various industries today, including telecom.
"We are leveraging AI to enhance network operations and security, and we believe that digital advancements, AI, 5G, and 6G are merely different labels for the same underlying technology," Kumar emphasized.
Regarding the company's accomplishments, he highlighted that TCS successfully developed India's indigenous 4G stack, which has been implemented for BSNL and is operational at over 97,000 locations.
Previously at IMC, Manmeet Singh, Senior Director of Business Development at Qualcomm India, acknowledged the central government's continual efforts in crafting policies that nurture the entire ecosystem in the country.
He commended the government's initiatives, noting that the "Make in India" program was initially launched, which signifies not only manufacturing within India but also exporting locally produced goods globally.
Singh pointed out that the next phase involves a strong emphasis on product design within the country.
The India Mobile Congress stands as Asia's largest digital technology forum, uniting leaders from the telecom, media, and technology (TMT) sectors. This annual event is organized through a collaboration between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).