New Delhi, 27th May 2025: Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister for Communications and Development of North East Region, Govt. of India unveiled ‘Innovate to Transform’ as the theme for the 9th Edition of the India Mobile Congress 2025, scheduled to be held from 8th to 11th October 2025 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi. This year’s edition promises to build on the legacy of its predecessors by fostering collaboration, showcasing cutting-edge advancements, and addressing the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
This year’s theme underscores the pivotal role of innovation in shaping the future and enabling real, transformative change across sectors, from industry and infrastructure to society and sustainability. It highlights the need for continuous creativity and forward-thinking to address emerging challenges and harness new opportunities in telecommunications, digital infrastructure and beyond. IMC 2025 calls upon industry leaders, startups and technology enthusiasts to come together and co-create solutions that will power the next era of inclusive growth and India’s growing leadership in digital advancement.
Organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), IMC 2025 is expected to attract over 1.5 lac visitors from 150+ countries, feature over 400 exhibitors & partners and more than 7,000 global delegates. The flagship startup program, ASPIRE, introduced in 2023, will feature over 500 startups and connect them with more than 300 investors, incubators accelerators and VCs for mentorship, live pitching sessions and networking. IMC, Asia’s largest digital technology forum will also witness 800 plus speakers participating over 100 conference sessions.
Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister for Communications and Development of North East Region, Govt. of India said, “India today is leading the revolution in the telecommunications space and we has never waited for the future to arrive but have always shaped it. The theme ‘Innovate to Transform’ outlines and underlines the concept that in this journey of transformation and has been India’s compass. We are among the top six countries today that are filing for 6G patents. We have built one of the most robust telecommunication networks and systems across the world which is cutting edge, customer oriented and service oriented. While we talk about opportunities such as this, innovation has to be at the core of our existence. In a period of 22 months, we produced the first domestic 4G stack for the world — and India has become the 5th country in the world to produce its own telco stack. DSS — Design, Solve and Scale — has to be our chemical formula in this journey.”
Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Chairman DCC & Secretary (T), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said, “The participation in IMC has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to the vision of the hon’ble PM who has guided us about the fact that technology is the only thing that will lead India towards a Viksit Bharat in 2047. We were laggards in 4G, we were in stride with the world in 5G and we will be ahead in 6G and that is the dream all of us will like to see fulfilled. This year, we believe we will be able to surpass last year’s participation, see a large number of startups showcasing the progress of telecom innovation and manufacturing in India and bring eminent speakers covering the entire gamut of telecom. Our dream is that IMC will not only remain a preserve of telecom technologies but will bring all other horizontal tech under its wings.”
Shri Abhijit Kishore, Chairman, COAI said, “Right from its inception in 2017, IMC has served as a crucial platform for dialogue, collaboration and action, highlighting the pivotal role of technology and connectivity in nation building. It has grown significantly in stature and scale and has become an active platform for knowledge sharing and thought leadership, becoming the largest digital technology forum in Asia. The success of IMC over the last 8 years is not just measured in numbers but in the impact it has created on industries, communities and the nation at large. The journey ahead is filled with promises and I am confident that IMC will remain at the forefront, shaping the next chapter of India’s digital revolution.”
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Telecom Excellence Awards 2024
During the occasion, DoT announced the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Telecom Excellence Awards 2024, recognizing individuals and organizations for exemplary contributions across Telecom Innovations, Skilling, Services, Manufacturing, and Applications. The awards celebrate impactful telecom-driven solutions in sectors like agriculture, commerce, health, and education.
| S. No. | Name of Awardee |
| 1. | Parag Naik, Co-founder of Sankhya Labs |
| 2. | Niral Networks Private Limited, Bengaluru |
| 3. | Lekha Wireless, Bengaluru |
| 4. | Prof. Chandra Ramabhadra Murthy, IISC Bengaluru |
| 5. | C-DOT for CBS (Cell Broadcasting Solution) |
Launch of Sanchar Mitra Scheme
Hon’ble Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia also launched the Sanchar Mitra Scheme which aims to empower a wider youth network to act as digital ambassadors, further strengthening the connection between the telecom ecosystem and the citizens. In addition to public awareness efforts, the scheme will also provide student volunteers exposure to emerging telecom technologies and DoT initiatives, fostering job-readiness and research interest in the sector.
IMC 2025 will showcase over 1,000 cutting-edge use-cases, spotlighting emerging technologies including 5G, 6G, AI, IoT, electronics manufacturing, and green tech, while addressing the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly digital world. The previous edition of the India Mobile Congress was a huge success with over 175,000 attendees from 120+ countries and this year’s edition promises to be even bigger and better, cementing India’s role as a global digital leader.
