I&B Ministry
India stresses need for Indo-African ICT cooperation
NEW DELHI: Sharing expertise and growing businesses. India has a vast experience in setting up of ICT infrastructure and the experience can be leveraged by the government as well as private sectors in African nations, Communications Minister Manoj Sinha said.
The minister was inaugurating the 2nd edition of the Indo-Africa ICT Expo at KICC, Nairobi, from 1 to 3 September, with the help of India’s Telecommunication Equipment and Services Export promotion Council (TEPC) in conjunction with NASSCOM, and ICT Authority of Kenya last weekend.
He said: “To explore synergies on the ground, I have with me about 100 ICT companies from India participating in this event that will facilitate growth of business opportunities in our nations.” This event is supported by India and Kenya. Kenya ICT Minister Joe Mucheru was also present on the occasion.
The event, aimed at enhancing cooperation between African countries and India in the ICT sector, also saw attendance of various senior government officials from neighbouring countries such as South Sudan ICT & Postal Services Deputy Minister Akol Paul Kordit with a big delegation, Uganda ICT Principal Secretary Jimmy Pat Saamanya, and Malawi ICT and Civic Education Secretary Justin Adack K Saidi. Business leaders from India, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, the UK, Israel, South Sudan, Rwanda, Mauritius and Commonwealth Telecom Organization were also present.
Sinha stressed that India had conditions similar to those in the African nations. The country also had special ties with East African countries. Together, India saw many opportunities for cooperation and transfer of expertise in the areas of setting up ICT infrastructure, solutions and application development, skill development and innovation that could be leveraged by the governments as well as the private sector in the continent. India was keen to find ways to increase business between India and Africa in ICT sector, he said.
Kenya minister Mucheru called upon the local businesses to tap into the huge reservoir of knowledge their Indian counterparts had and develop technology-based solutions for Kenyan, African and the global market. He also noted that there were numerous opportunities for partnerships between both, public and private, sectors of Kenya and India. He said India and Africa continued to witness exponential growth in the telecommunication and information technology segments. It is thus essential to evaluate the areas where the two regions could cooperate so as to further enhance lives of the people through technology.
The second edition of the expo-cum-conference saw over ICT companies participating from India showcasing their latest products and solutions to explore synergies on the ground.
A key highlight of the event on 1 September 2016 was the ICT Ministers Round Table Meeting on ‘Digital Dreams of the Developing Nations’, wherein ICT Ministers/Secretaries leading high-level government and business delegations from India, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda and Malawi participated. Government-to-Government bilateral talks were also held between the Indian Government officials and government delegations from Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and South Sudan.
A NASSCOM statement said, “Africa is turning into one of the fastest growing regions in the world, offering huge domestic market potential and growing economically at more than 5% per year. This event only reiterates the fact that India and Africa are well on their way to collaborate and become the next global leaders in technology. Africa is turning into one of the fastest growing regions in the world, offering huge domestic market potential and growing economically at more than 5% per year. During the last two years, the focus has been on the SME sector engagement and a number of the participating delegate companies have achieved their biggest success in Africa.”
The sessions at the conference were aligned with theme “Digital Dreams of Nation”. The event was attended by over 2500 visitors and over 300 conference delegates with a world-class speaker panel. The expo was designed to bring together thought leaders across the entire ICT value chain to discuss solutions to regulatory and business issues.
The event also had more than 400 Business-to-Business meetings between Indian and African countries. Over 10 MoUs worth Rs. 40 crore business were signed. In addition, there was a demand for setting up of training centre and technology transfer.
TEPC is also organizing Buyer-Seller business meets in New Delhi where potential buyers from across the globe are invited to meet the telecom equipment and services suppliers of India to develop long-term business relations. The event for 2016 has been planned from 3 to 5 October 2016 in New Delhi and Bangalore. Sinha invited business delegations from participating countries to join the event in India.
I&B Ministry
India rolls out Rs 203 crore TDIP scheme to boost 6G push
Revised policy widens access for startups, boosts global telecom standards play
NEW DELHI: India is doubling down on its telecom ambitions with a revamped Technology Development and Investment Promotion scheme, designed to help the country move from participant to power player in global standards.
The Ministry of Communications on Tuesday unveiled revised guidelines for the TDIP scheme, committing Rs 203 crore for the 2026 to 2031 period. The move aims to strengthen India’s presence in international telecom forums while accelerating homegrown innovation in next-generation technologies, including 5G Advanced and 6G.
At the launch, Ministry of Communications union minister for communications and development of north eastern region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said the updated framework is intended to give Indian players a stronger voice in shaping global telecom rules.
The scheme focuses heavily on increasing participation in key global bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union, 3GPP and oneM2M. Financial support will be provided for attending international meetings, submitting technical proposals, taking leadership roles, and even hosting global events in India.
The idea is straightforward. If India helps write the rules, its technologies stand a better chance of going global.
Beyond policy rooms and conference tables, the revised scheme casts a wider net across the ecosystem. Startups, MSMEs, academia and research institutions are now explicitly included, opening the door for broader collaboration and faster innovation cycles. Pilot projects, proof-of-concept initiatives and real-world demonstrations will also receive support, helping ideas move from lab to market.
Supporting the rollout will be institutions such as Telecommunications Standards Development Society India, Telecom Centres of Excellence India and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited. These bodies will coordinate efforts, build capacity and ensure industry participation aligns with global opportunities.
The initiative ties in with broader efforts by the Department of Telecommunications, including programmes like the Telecom Technology Development Fund and the Bharat 6G Mission, forming a more cohesive push towards future-ready networks.
Also present at the event were Ministry of Communications minister of state for communications and rural development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Department of Telecommunications secretary (telecommunications) and chairman digital communications commission Amit Agrawal.
With this update, India is not just looking to keep pace with global telecom trends. It is aiming to help define them.
