India’s telecom exports increased by 72% to ₹18,406 crore in five years: Scindia – Obnews

Union Communications Minister **Jyotiraditya Scindia** told the Lok Sabha on December 17, 2025 that India’s telecom exports have increased by 72% in five years, from ₹10,000 crore in FY 2020-21 to **₹18,406 crore** in FY 2024-25. Imports remained stable at around **₹51,000 crore**, indicating progress towards self-reliance and global leadership in telecom.

Scindia stresses on rapid **5G rollout**: 767 out of 778 districts now connected to 5G network. There are **36 crore** 5G subscribers in India, which is expected to increase to 42 crore by 2026 and 100 crore by 2030.

On **Satellite Communication (SATCOM)**, essential for areas remote from conventional infrastructure, Scindia mentioned a strong policy framework with administrative spectrum assignment. Licenses have been issued to **Starlink**, **OneWeb** and **Reliance**. The commercial rollout awaits spectrum charges and security clearance from TRAI, which includes hosting gateways in India. Operators are doing demos using sample spectrum to comply with the rules.

The government aims to provide different telecom options for customers to choose from depending on their needs and prices. This progress shows the momentum of India’s telecom sector.