IT Minister Believes That India Would Soon Become Global Leader In Mobile Manufacturing

Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister of Communication, Electronics and Information Technology, said that India is on track to become the world leader in mobile handset manufacturing in the coming years, considering the technological advancement going on in the county.

The Minister also stated on 6 February that 5G technology has progressed satisfactorily and will be rolled out this year. According to Vaishnaw, India has surpassed China as the world's second-largest producer of mobile devices in terms of volume, with 200 units producing handsets.

He said: “Due to a large number of manufacturing units, the market size of India’s electronic manufacturing has touched Rs 6 lakh crore. The sector is generating 22 lakh jobs. With the speed at which electronic manufacturing is progressing, the market size will reach Rs 25 lakh crore in five years. It will be then generating 80 lakh employment.”

“A decade ago, who would have thought mobile and electronic systems would be manufactured in India. Now, India has already become the world’s second-largest mobile handset manufacturer. World’s largest mobile manufacturing set-up is now available in India,” the Minister added.

India has made far more progress in 5G than predicted, according to the Union Minister, and a 5G core, as well as radio network will be introduced very soon. The Minister explained that C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics) and Tata Consultancy Services have been developing the technology by virtualising the network for the last two years and that no other firm in the world has mastered virtualisation as well as the engineers in India have.

“I am confident that India will become the world leader in mobile technology,” he noted while claiming that the indigenous 4G technology is better than the one in other countries.

While addressing media in Bhubaneswar, Vaishnaw said 6,000 villages in Odisha are still without a mobile network due to a paucity of towers. His ministry has identified approximately 3,933 locations for the installation of mobile towers.

When questioned why the public sector BSNL and MTNL were having trouble competing with their private sector counterparts, the Minister stated that BSNL was a lucrative business. He explained that during the UPA government, BSNL’s funds were “diverted”.

“Within three years, BSNL became an entity that was unsustainable for its sustenance. There were no resources available to fund even the day-to-day activities,” he added.

According to the Minister, in 2021, BSNL made an operating profit for the first time. He said it occurred as a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approval of a Rs 90,000 crore package for the revival of BSNL, as well as MTNL and it allowed the two public-sector enterprises to regain their footing.

“This year, we are infusing Rs 45,000 crore to take the public sector companies BSNL and MTNL to the next stage. The fund would be spent on 4G spectrums, network upgradation and the replacement of old equipment,” he noted.

The IT Minister also assured that after BSNL achieves stability in 4G technology in one or two years, it will focus on 5G service.