IMC 2026: “Scale Without Boundaries” – India’s Digital Ambition Takes Center Stage

July 30, 2026

India’s flagship technology event, the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, is set to return for its landmark 10th edition with a theme that captures the nation’s evolving digital ambition: “Scale Without Boundaries.” The event will be held from October 7 to 10, 2026, at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi .

A Decade of Digital Transformation

The theme was unveiled by Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, who framed it as a reflection of India’s journey from connecting the next billion people to enabling “the next billion possibilities” . “India is no longer only a market for technology; we are increasingly becoming a nation that designs, develops and scales technology for the world,” Scindia said, emphasizing India’s transition from ‘Vocal for Local’ to ‘Local for Global’ .

The minister also set a target of connecting 100 crore (1 billion) Indians to 5G by 2030, building on the nearly 50 crore users already connected in just two and a half years . With an investment of approximately ₹4.5 lakh crore in 5G infrastructure and nearly 5 lakh telecom towers deployed, India has become the world’s second-largest 5G market .

Four Pillars of the Future

IMC 2026 is structured around four strategic pillars that reflect India’s vision for a digitally empowered future :

Srishti – Building the Future: Focusing on innovation and next-generation digital infrastructure, including AI, 6G, semiconductors, and quantum technologies.
Suraksha – Strengthening Trust: Addressing cybersecurity, trusted digital infrastructure, and privacy in a hyper-connected world.
Sashakt – Expanding Opportunities: Leveraging technology for inclusive growth, digital access, and skilling.
Samvardhan – Fueling Growth: Showcasing the role of digital technologies in driving investment, entrepreneurship, and job creation.

6G: India’s Leadership Ambition

A recurring theme across the announcements was India’s determination to lead in 6G development. “We followed the world on 4G. We marched with the world on 5G. But yes, we will lead the world on 6G,” Scindia declared . He noted that seven working groups under the Bharat 6G Alliance are actively contributing to international standards through bodies like the ITU and 3GPP .

Minister of State for Communications Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani reinforced this ambition, stating, “We lost the bus in 4G,” and that the objective now is to secure India “a seat at the table” when global 6G standards are finalised . The government is expanding India’s 6G ecosystem to 90 partners and enabling startups and MSMEs to participate in international standard-setting forums .

Showcasing the Technologies of Tomorrow

IMC 2026 is expected to attract over 1.5 lakh attendees, more than 300 exhibitors and partners from over 100 countries, and showcase over 1,500 technology use cases . The event will feature innovations across:

5G and 6G connectivity
Artificial Intelligence
Semiconductors and electronics manufacturing
Quantum computing and cybersecurity
Satellite communications and deep-tech
Clean-tech, Industry 4.0, and enterprise digital transformation

New focus areas include smart mobility, industrial automation, transport technologies, and connected stadium experiences, reflecting the convergence of telecommunications with manufacturing, urban infrastructure, and consumer services .

Startups at the Heart of Innovation

Innovation and entrepreneurship will be a defining feature through the ASPIRE startup programme. This year’s edition is expected to host more than 400 startups alongside over 300 investors, venture capital firms, incubators, and accelerators . Organisers expect to facilitate more than 700 one-to-one investor meetings, in addition to live pitching sessions, mentoring programmes, and networking opportunities .

The programme is designed to strengthen India’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem while connecting entrepreneurs with global investors and technology partners.

Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing

The government also announced the establishment of India’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh . Conceived as a dedicated ecosystem for telecom equipment makers, semiconductor companies, and data centres, the project is expected to strengthen domestic manufacturing under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme .

Scindia noted that the telecom PLI programme has attracted ₹6,000 crore in investments, generated ₹1.2 lakh crore in sales, enabled ₹25,600 crore in exports, and created nearly 36,000 jobs .

The Road Ahead

IMC 2026 marks a decade of India Mobile Congress, celebrating its evolution from an initiative aimed at “connecting the next billion” to a global platform focused on scaling Indian technologies and solutions worldwide . As Ramakrishna P., CEO of IMC, noted: “India needs to be on the global map, and our companies, our industry, our citizens should look forward to the fact that they need to scale and they have to scale to take their companies or their individual ideas, innovations across the globe” .

With its focus on AI, next-generation connectivity, trusted digital ecosystems, and global collaboration, IMC 2026 seeks to position India not simply as a large technology market, but as a country increasingly shaping the future architecture of the global digital economy .