New Delhi, October 7, 2025 | Sarhind Times Tech & Economy Desk
As India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 readies to open its doors on October 8, expectations are high that New Delhi will become the global hub for next-gen connectivity and digital transformation this week. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated to inaugurate the event, organisers and government officials promise a showcase of India’s leadership in 5G, AI, satellite communication, open RAN, and telecom manufacturing. Delegates, exhibitors and policymakers across 150+ countries will converge on the Yashobhoomi convention grounds in Dwarka for what is being billed as one of Asia’s most ambitious tech summits.
The Big Picture: Scale, Theme & Ambition
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) confirms that PM Modi will inaugurate IMC 2025 on October 8 at 9:30 AM at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka.
Under the central theme “Innovate to Transform”, the event is positioned as a platform to push India’s self-reliance and global leadership in telecom and digital tech.
Some key numbers and expectations:
- Over 1.5 lakh visitors, 7,000+ delegates, and 400+ exhibitors from 150+ countries will participate.
- The exhibition space is spread over 4.5 lakh sq ft.
- More than 1,600 new technology use-cases in 5G, AI, cybersecurity, satellite comms, IoT, and telecom manufacturing will be on display.
- The event will host six major global summits covering Bharat 6G, AI, cybersecurity, satcom, startup–investor interfaces (IMC Aspire), and the Global Startup World Cup (India edition).
Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia visited the venue and reviewed final preparations, touring exhibition halls, meeting exhibitors, and coordinating with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), COAI, and partner agencies.
Scindia emphasized that today’s telecom is not simply infrastructure but “the highway and pathway” for AI, satcom, IoT, ML, and digital inclusion
Key Technology Pillars & Feature Areas
5G, Edge AI & Beyond
Private 5G networks, edge AI deployment models, 5G slices for enterprises, and AI-native network stacks are slated to be front and center. Some of these use-cases (nearly 800) are expected to showcase real deployments across sectors such as health, agriculture, logistics and telecom.
Satellite Communication (Satcom)
Satellite-based connectivity (LEO/MEO), integration of 5G + satellite backhaul, and hybrid network models will be explored through the Satcom Summit. The theme is bridging coverage gaps, enabling remote connectivity, and ensuring resilience.
Bharat 6G & Next-Gen Research
IMC 2025 will include the Bharat 6G Symposium, bringing global players and Indian researchers together to discuss standards, spectrum frameworks and early trials for 6G. The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) will be prominently featured.
Cybersecurity & Trust
Given the scale of digital integration, a dedicated Cyber Security Summit will focus on protecting telecom infrastructure, user data, and national digital assets. The emphasis will be on proactive, zero-trust architectures.
Startups, Investment & Innovation
The IMC Aspire Programme aims to connect ~500 startups with 300 VCs / investors. The Global Startup World Cup – India Edition will bring in 15 finalists competing for a $1 million investment.
Demonstration & Use-Case Showcases
From smart agriculture to industrial IoT, smart cities to edge computing, the exhibition will host real deployments, testbeds, pilot demos and prototypes in 5G, AI, cybersecurity, satcom, XR, robotics, and future mobility.
Strategic Stakes & India’s Aspirations
Self-Reliance & Telecom Manufacturing
One priority is to promote “design in India, solve in India, scale in India”, reducing dependence on foreign telecom hardware. The event is expected to catalyze partnerships, indigenous R&D, and manufacturing alliances in telecom equipment.
Digital Equity & Connectivity
By showcasing satellite integration, private networks, and last-mile innovations, IMC aims to push connectivity to under-served geographies—villages, remote hamlets, islands—helping realize universal broadband goals.
Soft Power, Global Diplomacy, Technology Leadership
As the event invites 150+ countries, India can project itself as a technology leader, frame norms, host standard forums, and anchor global telecom cooperation.
Policy Announcements & Signal Setting
Analysts expect updates on spectrum pricing, open RAN policy, trusted telecom gear policy, incentives for electronics manufacturing, and potential subsidies for telecom startups. The event may also serve as a platform for the government to announce new digital policies or reforms.
Logistics, Challenges & Ground Realities
Venue & Movement
Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, is the venue. With VIP movement, extensive traffic advisories are expected in Dwarka, Airport Express and surrounding corridors. Delegates and media are likely to face peak hours congestion. Security and transport planning are under advanced review.
Coordination & Technology Support
Networking, 5G coverage, power backup, redundancy, exhibitor coordination, last-mile connectivity—all logistics challenges for a large telecom event. Organisers will lean heavily on DoT, COAI and private telecom providers to ensure smooth infrastructure.
Stakeholder Management
With participants including global majors (Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, SpaceX/Starlink, ISRO, satellite players), telcos, Indian startups and government agencies, the balancing act is significant. Neutral platforms, data sovereignty assurances and interoperability will be key demands.
Risk Factors
Delays in deployment demos, spectrum disputes, regulatory last-minute changes, security concerns, or global macro shocks (e.g., supply chain disruption) may impact sentiment or announcements.
Comparative Benchmarking & Historical Context
IMC has gradually grown in ambition. Earlier editions focused on telecom policy, device launches, and network showcases. In recent years, the push toward exhibition of 5G pilots, IoT, smart cities and policy announcements has matured. IMC 2025 is being projected as Asia’s premier telecom-tech convergence platform.
Globally, similar events like Mobile World Congress (Barcelona), CES, and Satellite conferences play a role in shaping industry narratives. IMC now competes in that league as a homegrown global gathering.
What to Watch for During IMC 2025
| Indicator | Significance |
| PM Modi’s inaugural speech content | Signals of policy direction, national priorities |
| Spectrum policy updates | Affects telecom rollouts and operator investments |
| Announcements from Bharat 6G & B6GA | Benchmarking India’s 6G trajectory |
| Open RAN, trust gear & indigenous equipment MOUs | Measure of self-reliant architecture |
| Satcom / LEO/MEO deals | Satellite bridging gaps in digital inclusion |
| Startup–investor deal flows | Health of the tech ecosystem |
| Cross-border participation & diplomacy | Soft-power and international engagement |
| Execution reliability | A test of India’s event-infrastructure capabilities |
Voices from the Field
- Scindia (on site): He tweeted that IMC 2025 is “not just India Mobile Congress but Asia Mobile Congress and global congress.”
- He also said India has 1.2 billion mobile subscribers, 970 million internet users, and that 5G rollout was among the fastest globally.
- In his visit to venue via metro (from Shivaji Stadium to Yashobhoomi), he underlined sustainable connectivity
- Organisers highlight the number of AI use-cases (~800) to push the narrative of convergence of AI + telecom.
Risks, Pitfalls & Fail-Safes
While ambition is high, execution is challenging:
- Announced demos may not scale or perform under live stress
- Disagreements over spectrum or regulations may overshadow technological showcases
- Infrastructure hiccups—power outages, network outages, exhibitor disputes
- Global supply chain delays might impact hardware exhibits
- Overpromise vs underdeliver may lead to reputational risk
Organisers must plan redundancies, backup infrastructure, seamless exhibitor support, and real-time incident management to avoid pitfalls.
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#6G #OpenRAN #Startups #Innovation
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