Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced at the CII Annual Business Summit 2025 that India is on track to become the data capital of the world within the next five years. He emphasized that India's rapid digital transformation is largely driven by a booming telecom sector.
Scindia highlighted significant growth in India's telecom industry over the last decade. The country's telecom subscriber base has surged from 800 million ten years ago to 1.2 billion in 2025, making India the world's second-largest mobile market. Furthermore, India's broadband user base has expanded to 940 million.
The minister drew attention to the drastic reduction in communication costs, noting that once-expensive tariffs have become affordable for the masses. "Eleven years ago, 1 GB of data cost Rs 287; today, it costs merely Rs 9," he stated, underscoring a 97% reduction in data costs. Currently, India's cost of data communication stands at just 5% of the global average, bolstering the country's digital economy.
In addition, the government recently launched the Sanchar Mitra Scheme to strengthen the connection between telecom providers and citizens.
Regarding the introduction of satellite communication services, Scindia explained that telecom companies would be responsible for their deployment after securing the necessary government licenses. He noted that two companies have already qualified for licensing, with a third close to meeting the criteria. The government remains committed to issuing licenses to firms that comply with the required regulations, and once licensed, companies must operate under the guidelines provided by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
