Blog — April 23, 2026
ET Telecom 5G Congress 2026: India's 5G journey and beyond
One of India’s leading telecom gatherings, the ET Telecom 5G Congress 2026, was held in New Delhi on March 20, bringing together industry leaders and policymakers to discuss the next phase of connectivity and the evolving 5G landscape. This year’s discussions reflected a clear shift beyond rollout, with growing focus on 5G-Advanced, AI-driven networks, and the transformation of telecom infrastructure into intelligent, platform-based ecosystems.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan, India has rapidly emerged as one of the world’s largest 5G markets, with hundreds of millions of users already onboarded, expanding connectivity across both urban and rural areas.
At the congress, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia highlighted India’s strong 5G momentum, with coverage reaching nearly all districts. The focus is now shifting from availability to adoption and meaningful usage, while affordability remains central.
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Use cases and industry adoption
The event showcased practical 5G applications across sectors such as agriculture and healthcare, including AI-enabled farming and advanced telemedicine at AIIMS. Enterprise use cases like private networks and network slicing were also key themes, alongside ongoing efforts by the Bharat 6G Alliance to advance next-generation technologies. Executives from Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea emphasized the role of 5G-Advanced and AI in enabling more efficient, autonomous, and enterprise-ready networks.
Policy, challenges, and outlook
Discussions involving the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Department of Telecommunications focused on enabling policies for seamless technology upgrades, IoT growth, and future 6G readiness.
While progress has been rapid, challenges remain around monetization, enterprise adoption, and building global competitiveness in telecom innovation. FWA is emerging as a key growth driver, while AI and IoT are expected to shape the next phase of network evolution.
Looking ahead, 5G is set to dominate India’s telecom landscape, with continued investments in infrastructure, enterprise solutions, and next-generation technologies supporting long-term digital transformation.
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