Scaling Electronics Exports and 5G Connectivity

Driven by targeted government initiatives including the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), and Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0), India’s electronics exports surged over 11-fold to ₹4.24 lakh crore (US$ 47.98 billion) in FY2025-26. Electronic goods have emerged as the nation's third-largest export category, while overall electronics production expanded to ₹6.27 lakh crore (US$ 70.95 billion). Crucially, India has solidified its position as the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with mobile exports recording a 165-fold increase to reach ₹2.59 lakh crore (US$ 29.30 billion)—making mobile phones the country's single largest export product. This rapid expansion generated approximately 12 lakh jobs, with women representing nearly 30% of the broader electronics ecosystem workforce and 70% of mobile manufacturing employment. Simultaneously, India's digital economy now contributes up to 14% of GDP, underpinned by significant telecommunications infrastructure expansion and dropping data costs. Between 2014 and March 2026, internet subscribers expanded from 25.15 crore to over 109.2 crore, supported by wireless data costs dropping from ₹308 per GB (US$ 5.04) down to ₹7.51 per GB (US$ 0.08). Average mobile broadband download speeds experienced a massive surge, climbing to 132.00 Mbps by late 2025. Network reach has expanded across urban and rural zones, with 5G services available in 99.9% of districts via 5.63 lakh Base Transceiver Stations, while 4G connectivity covers 6.31 lakh villages nationwide. $DIXON