New Delhi: India is on track to become a global leader in fifth-generation (5G) telecommunications, with a target of one billion 5G subscribers by 2030, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Scindia said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has achieved one of the world’s fastest 5G rollouts, with high-speed services reaching 99.9% of districts within 22 months of launch. He added that out of the country’s nearly 1.2 billion telecom subscribers, around 40 million users are already on 5G networks.
Participating in a discussion in the House, the minister attributed the rapid expansion to policy reforms, streamlined spectrum allocation and infrastructure sharing, alongside a push for domestic manufacturing. “India will lead the world in 5G,” Scindia said, reiterating the government’s long-term digital connectivity goals.
The minister said 5G technology would act as a catalyst for economic growth and innovation across sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture and manufacturing, enabling applications ranging from telemedicine to smart logistics and Industry 4.0 solutions.
Responding to opposition concerns on coverage and affordability, Scindia said the government remained focused on expanding high-speed connectivity while ensuring services remain accessible and affordable. He added that India’s digital public infrastructure and telecom reform model are increasingly being studied by other countries.
