How fast is India’s telecom rising? Exports jump 72%, 5G reaches most districts, SATCOM clears hurdles, and ambitions grow for self-reliance and global leadership ahead.
India’s telecom sector is showing strong gains in exports and rapid progress in next-generation connectivity, according to data presented in Parliament on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, told the Lok Sabha that telecom exports have surged by 72% over the past five years, while imports have remained broadly unchanged.
The minister said exports rose from ₹100 billion in 2020–21 to ₹184.06 billion in 2024–25. During the same period, imports were capped at around ₹510 billion. He described the figures as evidence of India’s growing self-reliance in telecom manufacturing and technology, alongside its ambition to emerge as a global player.
Scindia also highlighted the pace of India’s 5G rollout. He said 767 of the country’s 778 districts are now connected to 5G networks. Subscriber numbers stand at about 360 million. This is expected to increase to 420 million by 2026 and reach 1 billion by the end of the decade.
Turning to satellite communications, or SATCOM, the minister said satellite-based services are essential for regions that cannot be reached through conventional base stations, fibre networks or backhaul infrastructure. He said the government is moving decisively to ensure nationwide access to such services.
Meanwhile, the SATCOM policy framework is already in place. Spectrum will be assigned through an administrative route. Licences have been issued to three operators: Starlink, OneWeb and Reliance.
However, commercial services cannot begin immediately. Scindia said two key steps remain. The first is the finalisation of spectrum assignment terms, including administrative pricing. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is currently handling this process.
The second requirement relates to security clearances. Operators have been given a sample spectrum to run demonstrations and complete compliance checks. These include hosting international gateways within India.
Once all security norms are met and approvals are granted, SATCOM services will be cleared for public rollout. The government’s aim, the minister said, is to offer a full range of telecom services, allowing users to choose based on need and affordability.
