The India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, the country’s biggest telecom and technology event, ran from 7 to 10 October 2026 at Yashobhoomi in Dwarka, New Delhi, under the theme Scale Without Boundaries. Its tenth edition focused on 6G, satellite connectivity, AI and network security.
Here are the highlights that matter for users, businesses and students, based on reporting from the event.
1. Satellite internet: licences ready, launch depends on spectrum pricing
Three operators hold licences for satellite communication services in India: Starlink, Reliance Jio’s satellite unit and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb. According to discussions at IMC, commercial launch depends on finalising spectrum charges and meeting security requirements. Amazon’s Kuiper has shown interest and would follow the same authorisation process.
Reports from the event said the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the regulator TRAI were close to finalising the spectrum pricing framework, and the government described its approach as technology-agnostic.
What it means for you: satellite broadband could reach remote villages, hilly areas and places where laying fibre is difficult. Pricing will decide how widely it is used.
2. 6G: new global partnerships
The International Bharat 6G Symposium, held alongside IMC, concluded on 9 October with more than 75 speakers, including over 30 international experts. Outcomes reported included:
- Five new MoUs with GSMA, one6G, GTI Alliance, the 6G Innovation Forum of Taiwan and VOICE
- Ten white papers and reports, including a progress report on 6G joint principles
- Discussions on the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference and combining terrestrial and satellite networks for remote coverage
6G is still years away commercially, but these partnerships aim to give India a say in global standards.
3. AI compute under the IndiaAI Mission
Speakers noted that more than 38,000 high-end GPUs have been onboarded under the IndiaAI Mission, with 20,000 more being added. Challenges identified included AI skills shortages, limited access to compute and data, a fragmented innovation ecosystem and the need for trusted responsible-AI frameworks.
If you are a student or professional, this is a signal to build AI skills now. See our guide to the AI skills Indian employers want in 2026.
4. Telecom cybersecurity
Sessions highlighted that around 36% of India’s telecom network is legacy infrastructure from a supply-chain perspective. Recommended measures included software bills of materials (SBOMs), zero-trust security, network slice isolation and continuous monitoring. Experts also flagged new AI-related risks such as prompt injection and data poisoning, and stressed that fraud prevention depends on information sharing between telecom operators, banks, e-commerce firms and government.
5. Results from the 5G Use Case Labs
The government’s 100 5G Use Case Labs, launched in October 2023 with an outlay of ₹97.67 crore, reported strong progress as of August 2026:
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Students who used the labs | 17,400+ |
| Institutions running 5G courses | 97 (21,000+ students) |
| Products and use cases developed | 634 |
| IP filings | 158 |
| Patents granted | 32 |
The second 5G Innovation Hackathon attracted 1,400 teams.
6. Business opportunities: private 5G and network APIs
Telecom operators are moving towards bundled enterprise services, combining private 5G, SD-WAN, cloud and security with service-level guarantees. Network APIs and partnerships with cloud providers were highlighted as growth areas, with small and medium businesses described as a largely untapped market held back by budget and awareness.
What to watch next
- Final spectrum pricing for satellite internet and commercial launch dates
- India’s contributions to 6G standards ahead of WRC-27
- The second edition of ESTIC, scheduled for 27 to 29 October at Bharat Mandapam, with a DoT session on intelligent networks and quantum communication
Frequently asked questions
When and where was IMC 2026 held?
From 7 to 10 October 2026 at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi.
When will Starlink launch in India?
Starlink holds a licence, but commercial launch depends on spectrum pricing and security compliance. No confirmed date was announced at IMC according to event reports.
When will 6G come to India?
6G is still in the research and standards stage globally. Commercial 6G services are not expected for several years.
Sources
- Communications Today, India Mobile Congress 2026’s third day advances policy agenda: satellite, 6G symposium, IndiaAI, cybersecurity and 5G lab figures.
- NewsBytes, India Mobile Congress 2026 in New Delhi spotlights 6G, AI: dates, venue and theme.
- India Mobile Congress, official website.
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