India Mobile Congress 2026 Shows AI and Telecom Operators Redefining India's Digital Future
18 Sources
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AI ROI a long-term game for telcos; skipping adoption not an option: IMC CEO Ramakrishna P
Ramakrishna P told ET AI at the IMC 2026 that since telecom operators are providing a wider range of services for businesses, they might soon become more of a tech company. Telecom companies have to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) despite uncertainty around its contribution to revenue and
[2]
IMC 2026: Ericsson Showcases 5G, AI and 6G Innovations
Ericsson is showcasing a range of 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging 6G technologies at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, highlighting their potential to support India's digital transformation and create new applications for consumers and enterprises. The company's showcase combines its
[3]
AI boom will need bigger telecom 'pipes'; spectrum still a hurdle: COAI chief
Chief Dr SP Kochhar said the industry remains concerned about the scale of investments required, particularly as operators continue to look for viable ways to monetise 5G. India's push to scale artificial intelligence (AI) will require greater telecom network capacity as the industry seeks more
[4]
India Mobile Congress 2026 Honours Telecom Innovators and Industry Leaders
The challenge invited startups, researchers, academic institutions and innovators from across India to develop solutions using 5G, AI, Cloud and IoT to address real-world challenges. India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 presented its prestigious annual awards during the landmark 10th edition in New
[5]
IMC 2026: Reliance Jio Showcases India-Built AI and Connectivity Innovations
India's leading telecom operator Reliance Jio is showcasing a range of sovereign, AI-first and home-grown technologies at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, highlighting how innovations developed to address India's scale and diversity can be deployed globally. The company's showcase brings together
[6]
IMC 2026: Qualcomm Demonstrates 'Connectivity Plus Compute' Architecture for Agentic AI
At the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, held at Yashobhoomi, Qualcomm showcased demonstrations focused on the convergence of connectivity and computing to support agentic artificial intelligence. The centerpiece to the company's presentation is its "Connectivity Plus Compute"
[7]
Global Leaders at IMC 2026 Mobilise Action on AI for Good, Telecom Cyber Defence and Trusted Digital Infrastructure
The 10th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 brought global consensus and sovereign innovation to the forefront, anchoring the forum's focus on next-generation standardisation and secure network architectures on the day 3. Engaging with the theme of 'Scale Without Boundaries,' international
[8]
Ericsson Showcases 5G, AI and 6G Innovations at India Mobile Congress 2026
Six winning startups are showcasing their solutions that apply 5G and AI to real-world challenges across agriculture, healthcare, digital inclusion, advanced manufacturing and environmental sustainability. Ericsson and emerging technologies like 6G are enabling new possibilities for consumers and
[9]
AI applications will force telecom networks to rethink uplink, spectrum and power: Ericsson India MD
MD Nitin Bansal said that as the technology moves beyond chatbots and into devices such as AI-enabled glasses and other applications that continuously send data to the cloud, the uplink side of mobile networks could become increasingly important. AI applications could push telecom operators to
[10]
IMC 2026: Vi to showcase AI and sovereign connectivity solutions under 'Boundless Intelligence' theme
Vi will present a suite of artificial intelligence-driven technologies and connectivity platforms at the upcoming India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026. Centered around the theme 'Boundless Intelligence' and anchored by the tagline 'Sovereign by Design', the operator's exhibition focuses on integrating
[11]
KPMG Report: AI & Advanced Manufacturing Redefine India's Telecom Shift Beyond Connectivity
As the telecommunications industry evolves beyond connectivity into an intelligent digital infrastructure ecosystem, India stands at a pivotal juncture to strengthen its role across the global technology value chain. The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), telecom networks, semiconductors,
[12]
AI-native networks, 6G to shape next phase of telecom, global leaders say at IMC 2026
India's telecom sector is moving beyond expanding connectivity towards building AI-native networks, integrating intelligence into infrastructure and shaping global 6G standards, with technology leaders at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 highlighting the need for programmable, secure and
[13]
From Terrestrial to Orbital: IMC 2026 Convenes Telecom Heavyweights to Map AI-Native Networks and Satellite Integration
Asia's largest digital technology forum deepens focus on Viksit Tech 47, direct-to-device satellite connectivity and the monetisation of AI-native infrastructure Building on a landmark inaugural session, the 10th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 gathered global industry leaders,
[14]
India's semiconductor push, agentic AI set to reshape telecom and connected devices: Industry leaders
India's semiconductor ambitions and the rapid adoption of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) are set to reshape the country's technology and telecom ecosystem, with industry leaders seeing opportunities across chip design, domestic manufacturing, autonomous networks, enterprise solutions and
[15]
AI-Native Networks & 6G Take Center Stage at India Mobile Congress 2026 as Telcos Pivot Beyond Pure Connectivity
As the 10th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 gathers pace at Yashobhoomi, the forum is setting the tone for the rest of days ahead, under the theme "Scale Without Boundaries". Global technology leaders, telecom operators, standards bodies and policymakers converged on one message: the
[16]
AI agents don't take coffee breaks, so networks must scale up: Ciena's Gautam Billa
With AI agents in the mix now, Billa said the network connecting the computing resources is likely to become a bottleneck in India's AI push, as their wider adoption in businesses drives up the data usage. Telecom networks have usually relied on an assumption that people will not speak, text or
[17]
Qualcomm Highlights 'Connectivity Plus Compute' at IMC 2026 as Agentic AI Reshapes Network Architecture
The showcase brings together AI agents running on devices, AI processing across the device, edge and cloud, and live integrated sensing on a commercial 5G network on the road to AI-native 6G At the 10th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 at Yashobhoomi, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. is
[18]
Vi Brings 'Boundless Intelligence' to Life at IMC 2026, showcasing AI-Powered Innovations for Customers, Enterprises and Industries
To demonstrate how AI and connectivity unlock new possibilities across daily life, businesses, and industries with showcases ranging from personal AI assistant and digital mining to zero-touch voice customer service, agentic AI, and connected cars. India's leading telecom operator Vi will showcase
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India Mobile Congress 2026 brought together telecom innovators, startups, and industry leaders to showcase AI-driven solutions and 5G and 6G innovations. Key figures including Ramakrishna P and SP Kochhar emphasized that telecom network capacity must expand as AI adoption becomes non-negotiable despite uncertain ROI timelines.
AI Adoption Now Non-Negotiable for Telecom Operators
Telecom companies must embrace AI despite uncertainty around immediate financial returns, according to India Mobile Congress CEO Ramakrishna P
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. Speaking at India Mobile Congress 2026, he warned that avoiding this shift risks pushing operators out of the market entirely. "If you don't adopt AI, you are not in the market. And the ROI point... I think it's a long-term game that everyone needs to understand," Ramakrishna P told ET AI1
. The AI ROI challenge reflects a broader transformation as operators like Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL evolve from traditional communication providers into tech companies offering AI-powered network evolution and enterprise solutions1
.Network Capacity Demands Surge Amid AI Boom
India's push to scale AI will require significantly greater telecom network capacity, according to COAI director general SP Kochhar
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. "The pipes we need will have to be much thicker," he said, emphasizing that operators must continuously expand infrastructure to handle growing data traffic driven by AI-driven solutions3
. Unlike conventional internet usage, AI applications will drive balanced demand for both uploads and downloads, forcing networks to evolve alongside investments in data centres. Spectrum availability remains a critical concern. COAI has been pushing the government for more allocation in the 6 GHz band, with the industry seeking an additional 1,200 MHz beyond the 700 MHz already received to meet its minimum 2 GHz requirement for 5G3
. Ramakrishna P noted that undersea cable capacity must also increase as data flows grow, stating "Data in India is growing so much, and now we also have data coming in from across the globe"1
.Indigenous Innovation Takes Center Stage at IMC 2026
India Mobile Congress 2026 honored telecom innovators through its prestigious annual awards, spotlighting achievements across indigenous innovation, export leadership, and 5G use cases
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. Ericsson's Innovation Challenge 2026 showcased six winning startups demonstrating how 5G and AI address challenges in agriculture, healthcare, digital inclusion, advanced manufacturing, and environmental sustainability2
. The challenge filtered 800 applications down to a final 20 before selecting winners including Torchit, Skye Air Mobility, and ScanO4
. Reliance Jio showcased sovereign, AI-first technologies under its vision of "Built in India. Scaled in India. Taking to the World," demonstrating innovations spanning satellite connectivity, autonomous networks, and AI-powered wearables5
. Jio's sovereign Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation aims to extend digital infrastructure beyond terrestrial networks, delivering secure, low-latency broadband across land, sea, and air5
.India Positions for Leadership in 6G Standards
India's priority in 6G development centers on helping set global standards rather than just deploying technology, according to Ramakrishna P
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. "The first thing in 6G is standards. We are not there yet, and neither is the world. Our role is to play an important part in setting the standards," he said1
. SP Kochhar echoed this ambition, stating "When we say that we want to become leaders, it is not only in deployment. We are talking about 6G standards, patents, applications, and then comes deployment"3
. At IMC 2026, Reliance Jio unveiled what it called India's first Giga MIMO Radio and a common baseband unit designed to support both 5G and 6G networks1
. Jio is actively participating in bodies like 3GPP and TM Forum, translating home-grown R&D into high-value patents and Standard Essential Patents5
.Sovereign Cloud Infrastructure and Data Sovereignty Emerge as Priorities
Telecom operators are expanding into sovereign cloud infrastructure offerings as they transform into technology companies. Ramakrishna P pointed to Airtel's sovereign cloud offering as an example of this expansion, suggesting AI will become embedded in the products operators provide
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. Data sovereignty has become a growing consideration as India invests in data centres and AI infrastructure, according to SP Kochhar3
. While international cloud services may offer lower costs, sovereign cloud capacity gives India greater control over its data. "We have to strengthen and Indianise our databases, then build LLMs and SLMs on them," Kochhar said, arguing that India needs AI models suited to its specific requirements3
. Ericsson demonstrated how AI is helping networks become more intelligent, automated, and autonomous through its showcase at the event2
.Related Stories
Cybersecurity Challenges Intensify with AI Expansion
The expansion of AI-driven traffic will raise cybersecurity concerns as the technology strengthens capabilities for both network defenders and cybercriminals, warned SP Kochhar
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. "AI helps us, but it also helps criminals," he said, calling for telecom operators to continuously adapt their defenses as threats evolve3
. He emphasized the need for regulatory frameworks to keep pace with technological developments and greater accountability across the digital ecosystem, including OTT platforms. Fortinet Inc. was recognized at IMC 2026 with the award for Best Security, Privacy & Authentication Driven Solution of the Year4
. The event, organized by the Department of Telecommunications and COAI, welcomed over 1.5 lakh attendees from more than 100 countries across four days4
.Digital Transformation Reshapes Workforce Requirements
The shift toward AI-powered network evolution and digital transformation will disrupt jobs, though the full employment picture remains unclear, according to Ramakrishna P
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. "I see the jobs are increasing. I see more automation being done... Doesn't mean you lose the jobs in other places," he said1
. He argued that employees' industry knowledge remains valuable for teaching AI, as their experience helps identify what actually works. "The real strength in AI is building on your knowledge base. That knowledge comes from having worked in the industry for, say, 10 years," Ramakrishna P explained1
. For new entrants, he emphasized foundations in mathematics and physics, stating "You should be strong in maths and physics. This is very true now" as these subjects underpin the intelligence built into AI platforms1
. Digital inclusion emerged as a key theme, with winning startups like Okulo Aerospace exploring 5G-enabled High Altitude Pseudo Satellites to extend connectivity to underserved areas2
.References
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