“The country has developed its own indigenously developed 4G core & radio network. The 5G network is also in its final stages of development. The country is participating today in development of 6G standards, in the thought process of 6G,” Vaishnaw said during the inauguration of the India Telecom 2022.

The ‘India Telecom 2022’ -- an International Business Expo is being held from February 8 to 10, 2022 under the Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAI) of the Department of Commerce, with support of the Department of Telecommunications, the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions in different countries, the Telecom Ministry said in a release.

Qualified buyers from more than 45 countries are attending the event. Apart from conference, 40+ Indian telecom companies are showcasing their products and capabilities at the exhibition, which is organised by the Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC), the ministry said.

“India has emerged as a major electronics manufacturing hub. Today, electronics manufacturing in India is close to US dollars 75 billion. It's growing at more than 20% CAGR. Now, we have launched a major semiconductor programme, a very comprehensive programme in which right from silicon chip to compound semiconductors, design led manufacturing, creating a series of entrepreneurs in design and also finally to develop 85,000 semiconductor engineers,” said the Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railway.

Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications, who was present at the inauguration of the show, said, “Communications is not merely a facility. It empowers citizen of the country by helping them to get information, education and opportunity to ask question and make the Government of the day accountable. Transparency and Accountability make our democracy vibrant and strong. It is a prime mover for socio-economic changes. That is why, the Government has made an ambitious plan taking optical fibre to all 6 lacs villages. We have reached to 2.6 lacs villages and Department of Telecom plans to achieve the target by 2025. This will also bridge the digital divide as well as fulfil the motto of “Minimum Government and Maximum Governance.”

The government has enabled easy market access to telecom equipment and a fair and proactive regulatory framework that has ensured availability of telecom services to consumers at affordable prices, said K Rajaraman, Chairman DCC & Secretary (T), Department of Telecommunications.

“Reform initiatives in the telecom sector are being pushed further with more such efforts later this year… Testing of a wholly Indian design, Indian 4G stack is in final stages and we expect this roll out in a few months. 5G is going to play a crucial role in evolving the tech industry, 5G would pave the way for bringing new used cases to life that can lead to proliferation of FinTech solutions in the Indian as well as in Global markets, 5G equipment are being manufactured in India for the world,” he said.