NEW DELHI: Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister for Communications and Development of North East Region, Government of India, today officially unveiled ‘Innovate to Transform’ as the theme for the 9th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025. The event is scheduled to take place from 8th to 11th October 2025 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi.
Building on the success of previous editions, IMC 2025 aims to foster collaboration, showcase cutting-edge technological advancements, and address the challenges and opportunities presented by a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The theme underscores the critical role of innovation in shaping the future and enabling transformative change across sectors such as industry, infrastructure, society, and sustainability.
“Innovation is the driving force that will enable India’s journey toward inclusive growth and digital leadership. IMC 2025 calls upon industry leaders, startups, and technology enthusiasts to co-create solutions that power the next era of transformation,” said Shri Scindia.
Organized jointly by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the event is expected to attract over 1.5 lakh visitors from more than 150 countries, feature over 400 exhibitors and partners, and host more than 7,000 global delegates. The flagship startup program, ASPIRE, introduced in 2023, will bring together over 500 startups with 300+ investors, incubators, accelerators, and venture capitalists for mentorship, live pitching, and networking opportunities. With over 800 speakers participating across 100+ conference sessions, IMC continues to be Asia’s largest digital technology forum.
Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said, "India is not waiting for the future to arrive; we are actively shaping it. The theme ‘Innovate to Transform’ reflects this vision. Today, India ranks among the top six countries filing for 6G patents and has developed one of the world’s most robust telecom networks. Innovation must remain at the core of our efforts. In just 22 months, we produced the first domestic 4G stack and became the fifth country to develop its own telecom stack. Our approach—Design, Solve and Scale (DSS)—will continue to guide us forward.”
Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Chairman DCC & Secretary (T), Department of Telecommunications, stated, “IMC has grown remarkably under the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, who has emphasized technology as the key to a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’. From being laggards in 4G, we matched global standards in 5G and aim to lead in 6G. This year, we expect even greater participation, with startups showcasing innovation and manufacturing progress in telecom. IMC will expand beyond telecom to include all horizontal technologies.”
Abhijit Kishore, Chairman, COAI, added, “Since its inception in 2017, IMC has evolved into Asia’s largest digital technology platform, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and thought leadership. The impact of IMC extends beyond numbers to industries, communities, and the nation. We are confident IMC will continue to shape India’s digital revolution.”
On the occasion, DoT announced the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Telecom Excellence Awards 2024, honoring individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions in Telecom Innovations, Skilling, Services, Manufacturing, and Applications. The awards recognize impactful telecom-driven solutions across agriculture, commerce, health, and education.
Awardees include:
Parag Naik, Co-founder of Sankhya Labs
Niral Networks Private Limited, Bengaluru
Lekha Wireless, Bengaluru
Prof. Chandra Ramabhadra Murthy, IISc Bengaluru
C-DOT for CBS (Cell Broadcasting Solution)
Hon’ble Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia also launched the Sanchar Mitra Scheme, designed to empower youth as digital ambassadors, bridging the telecom ecosystem with citizens. The initiative will raise public awareness and provide student volunteers exposure to emerging telecom technologies and DoT initiatives, fostering job-readiness and research interest.
IMC 2025 will showcase over 1,000 cutting-edge use cases, highlighting emerging technologies including 5G, 6G, AI, IoT, electronics manufacturing, and green technology. The event will also address the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly digital world. The previous edition of IMC witnessed over 175,000 attendees from 120+ countries, making it a landmark event. This year promises to be even bigger, further cementing India’s role as a global digital leader.
