India Mobile Congress 2023 Begins In Delhi with Focus on 5G Innovation

The 7th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023 has kicked off in New Delhi. Jointly organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the three-day event was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam.

The IMC 2023 brings together over 7000 delegates and exhibitors showcasing innovative technologies and use cases across sectors like education, agriculture, healthcare and more. A key highlight is the 100 5G Labs Initiative, which aims to boost the development of indigenous 5G applications tailored to India's needs.

In his address, PM Modi recalled India's 5G rollout last year, which put the country ahead of the world. He informed that within a year, over 4 lakh 5G base stations now cover 97% of cities and 80% of the population. The median mobile broadband speed has increased three-fold in a year, with India jumping from 118th to 43rd position globally.

Akash Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio revealed that Jio 5G contributed to 85% of India's total 5G subscriber base and is acquiring more users by the second. Meanwhile, in his inaugural address, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman Bharti Enterprises said that Airtel 5G has now been deployed in over 5000 towns and 20,000 villages across India and is eyeing March 2024 for the complete rollout.

The first day of IMC 2023 featured insightful sessions by industry leaders, including Ericsson, Intel, Reliance, ISRO, Qualcomm, MediaTek and others. These sessions covered a broad range of topics, including 5G reach, cyber security, satellite communications, 6G technology, drone applications, rural connectivity and more.

Two new additions at IMC 2023 are 'Aspire', a start-up program for young innovators, and 'Robo Blitz', a robotics competition inviting engineers to demonstrate skills. The three-day exhibition showcases 5G, 6G, AI, manufacturing, semiconductors, cybersecurity, broadcasting, satellite, green technology, deeptech and more.