India set to become hub for innovation: Telco chiefs

New Delhi: Reliance Jio Infocomm chairman Akash Ambani and Airtel chief Sunil Mittal lauded govt’s efforts on boosting telecom and next-gen technologies, including deep tech and startups, and said the India Mobile Congress (IMC) brings out India’s movement towards becoming a global innovation hub.“Today we saw the whole value chain… from semiconductors, to fraud management, to 6G, and we look forward to innovating and keeping India at the forefront of digital revolution,” Ambani said on the sidelines of the event.Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia spoke about the importance of fostering international cooperation, advancing indigenous R&D, and leveraging India’s digital capabilities to shape the global 6G landscape. “India is no longer a mere consumer of technology. We strive to be the architects of the future of technology,” Scindia said.SP Kochhar, DG of industry body COAI, said IMC represents India’s progress in innovation. “India’s technological future is in capable hands. Communications now reaches the farthest corners, supported by rapid technological upgrades.”Airtel’s Mittal said PM Modi has laid down a path for India beyond manufacturing for self-reliance in sovereign data space, AI, and data centres.Nitin Bansal, MD of Ericsson India, said the company is well-aligned with govt’s Make in India and Digital India programme. “We are at an inflection point with 5G where India, with its start-up culture and huge developer base, can innovate not just for India but for the world.”