India Mobile Congress: The Show Where India Launched 5G, And Is Now Betting on 6G

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the 10th India Mobile Congress (IMC) at Yashobhoomi, the convention centre in Dwarka, New Delhi. Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia received him on arrival.

It is India's flagship telecom and technology show, organised jointly by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the industry body of mobile operators. It is billed as Asia's largest event of its kind. This year's edition runs from October 7 to 10 under the theme "Scale Without Boundaries."

The show brings together telecom operators, equipment makers, startups, regulators, researchers and investors to display products, strike deals and announce policy.

HOW DID IT START?

The first edition was held at Pragati Maidan in September 2017, with about 2,000 delegates, 32,000 visitors and 152 speakers. The early editions concentrated on 5G, with exhibitors showing what the technology could do. The 2020 and 2021 editions were held virtually. IMC has since grown from a telecom show into a wider technology forum, moving into AI, semiconductors and quantum communication.

Three things set it apart.

First, it is where India launched 5G. Modi unveiled the country's 5G services at the 2022 edition, which the organisers say drew over 100,000 attendees.

Second, the government co-organises it and the Prime Minister opens it, which makes it a stage for policy announcements as well as products.

Third, it reflects India's data story. Scindia said 1 GB of data cost Rs 268 in 2014 and costs Rs 8 now, which he called the cheapest in the world. He said average monthly usage per customer has risen 140 times, from 0.26 GB to 36 GB. He also said the Bharat 6G Alliance now has 90 institutions and has built up 7,700 patents, including 4,400 international ones, making the event a showcase for India's 6G push.

WHAT'S ON THIS YEAR

IMC 2026 rests on four pillars: Srishti (building the future), Samvardhan (fuelling growth), Sashakt (expanding opportunities) and Suraksha (strengthening trust). It covers nine anchor sectors, including 5G and 6G, AI networks, semiconductors, non-terrestrial networks, cyber security and quantum communication. It adds four new ones: smart mobility, stadium experiences, industrial robotics and transport technology.

Organisers expect more than 1.5 lakh attendees from over 100 countries, 500-plus partners and exhibitors, 600-plus startups and 900-plus thought leaders. The programme has more than 2,000 technology use cases and over 120 sessions.

The satellite internet row is also in the background. Starlink's Lauren Dreyer spoke at IMC on Wednesday, and the Communications Ministry then responded to Elon Musk's claim that the company is being blocked by "oligarchs."

DOES THE WORLD HAVE ANYTHING LIKE IT?

The closest equivalent is MWC Barcelona, run by the GSMA, the global body of mobile operators, and the world's largest connectivity show. The 2026 edition drew nearly 105,000 attendees from 207 countries and territories, with 2,900 exhibitors and a ministerial programme that included 54 ministers. Its record attendance of 109,500 was set in 2019 and matched in 2025. The GSMA also runs MWC events in Shanghai, Kigali, Las Vegas and Doha.

Other big shows work on a different model. GITEX Global in Dubai, a technology and AI show, reported more than 200,000 visitors and 6,800 exhibitors from 180 countries in 2025, according to one industry listing. CES in Las Vegas, a consumer electronics show, draws 141,000-plus attendees and 4,500-plus exhibitors, per the same listing.

The key difference is who is in charge. MWC is an industry event with governments as guests, while IMC is a government-and-industry event with the Prime Minister at the opening.

With inputs from ANI