India Mobile Congress 2026 Starts Today: 6G, AI, Satellite Internet and Cybersecurity Take Centre Stage
India’s biggest telecom and digital technology gathering, India Mobile Congress 2026, begins today, October 7, at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, bringing together technology companies, startups, investors, policymakers and researchers to discuss the next phase of India’s digital transformation.
The four-day event runs from October 7 to October 10, 2026, under the theme “Scale Without Boundaries.” This year’s programme puts major emphasis on 6G, artificial intelligence, AI-native telecom networks, satellite communications, semiconductors, cybersecurity, quantum technology, robotics and next-generation digital infrastructure. Press Information Bureau
The Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India are organising the 10th edition of the event. According to the government’s latest estimates, IMC 2026 is expected to attract more than 1.5 lakh attendees, 500+ exhibitors and partners, 600+ startups and over 900 thought leaders.
More than 2,000 technology use cases expected
IMC 2026 is designed to be more than a traditional telecom exhibition.
The government says more than 2,000 technology use cases will be showcased across the event, alongside over 120 sessions covering emerging technologies and their commercial applications.
The programme is also expected to bring together more than 300 investors, incubators, accelerators and venture-capital firms, with over 700 investor meetings planned. That could make the event particularly important for Indian startups seeking funding, partnerships and access to international markets.
For India’s AI ecosystem, this is significant because the focus is increasingly moving beyond consumer chatbots toward AI infrastructure, telecom networks, chips, cloud computing, automation and enterprise applications.
6G could be one of the biggest themes
Although commercial 6G networks are still years away, the technology will have a major presence at IMC 2026.
The programme includes the 3rd International Bharat 6G Symposium, where discussions are expected to cover 6G foundations, future global standards, spectrum requirements and India’s role in shaping next-generation communication technologies.
India is attempting to become more involved in defining future telecom standards rather than simply adopting technology developed elsewhere.
The official IMC programme places 6G Intelligent RAN, AI-native telecom, edge and cloud computing, autonomous networks, quantum communications, semiconductors and AI chipsets under its future-technology track.
AI is moving directly into telecom networks
Artificial intelligence is another major theme.
Telecom companies increasingly see AI as technology that can operate inside networks rather than simply as a customer-facing chatbot.
AI-native networks could eventually help operators automate network management, detect problems, optimise capacity and improve services with less manual intervention.
IMC’s programme includes discussions around AI agents for 5G networks, telecom stacks for the AI era and an India-UK panel focused on AI safety.
The growing combination of telecom and artificial intelligence also creates new opportunities for Indian software companies, semiconductor firms, cloud providers and startups.
Satellite communications return to the spotlight
Satellite connectivity is also expected to attract considerable attention.
The IMC programme covers satellite communications, direct-to-device technology and non-terrestrial networks as telecom companies explore ways to provide connectivity in areas where conventional mobile infrastructure is difficult or expensive to deploy.
Satellite networks could eventually complement terrestrial 4G and 5G networks, particularly in remote regions, maritime areas and locations affected by disasters.
However, demonstrations and discussions at IMC should not be interpreted as meaning every showcased satellite or 6G service is immediately available commercially. Many technologies remain under development, testing or regulatory consideration.
Cybersecurity gets its own major focus
As India’s digital infrastructure expands, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important.
The Suraksha track at IMC 2026 focuses on building secure and resilient digital systems. Topics include cybersecurity, responsible AI, fraud prevention, consumer protection, data privacy, critical infrastructure security, Zero Trust architecture and network resilience.
This matters because AI, cloud platforms, telecom infrastructure and digital public services are becoming increasingly interconnected.
A weakness in one part of that ecosystem can potentially affect businesses and consumers across multiple services.
India crosses 1 billion internet subscribers
IMC 2026 is taking place as India’s connectivity market reaches a major scale.
According to the Ministry of Communications, India now has more than 1 billion internet subscribers and approximately 1.01 billion broadband subscribers.
The government also says 5G services now cover 99.9% of districts and reach around 85% of the population, while 98.7% of villages have 4G connectivity.
These figures help explain why global technology companies increasingly view India not only as a large consumer market but also as a location for developing and deploying digital infrastructure at scale.
India has also become the fifth country to develop an indigenous 4G technology stack, according to the government.
Startups could get major investor exposure
Startups will form another important part of IMC 2026.
The event includes the Startup World Cup India 2026, technology showcases and investor meetings. The ASPIRE startup programme is designed to connect emerging technology companies with investors, accelerators, incubators and potential industry partners.
This could provide opportunities for companies working in areas such as AI, telecom equipment, semiconductors, cybersecurity, robotics, satellite technology and enterprise software.
Rather than simply displaying prototypes, organisers are putting greater emphasis this year on turning technology into scalable businesses and real-world deployments.
Four pillars define IMC 2026
The government has organised this year’s programme around four broad pillars: Srishti, focused on future innovation; Suraksha, centred on trust and security; Sashakt, focused on expanding digital opportunities; and Samvardhan, aimed at economic growth, manufacturing, investment and market access.
Together, they reflect the wider “Scale Without Boundaries” theme — taking technologies beyond demonstrations and finding ways to deploy them across businesses, communities and international markets.
PM Modi’s formal inauguration scheduled for October 8
One important date distinction should be noted.
While the official India Mobile Congress schedule runs from October 7–10, the Ministry of Communications said during final preparations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to formally inaugurate IMC 2026 on October 8.
Prime Minister Modi also met members of the GSMA board on October 6 ahead of the event. During the interaction, discussions covered India’s digital transformation and opportunities for international cooperation in areas including 6G and artificial intelligence.
Why IMC 2026 matters
India Mobile Congress has gradually expanded from a telecom-focused gathering into a broader technology platform.
This year’s agenda shows that the boundaries between telecom, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, satellites, semiconductors, cybersecurity and quantum technologies are becoming increasingly blurred.
For consumers, some of the technologies showcased this week could eventually influence faster connectivity, digital security and new AI-powered services.
For businesses and startups, the bigger opportunity lies in infrastructure, investment, manufacturing and access to one of the world’s largest digital markets.
The next four days should therefore provide a clearer picture of where India wants to position itself in the global race for 6G, AI and next-generation digital infrastructure.