Team siliconindia

• PLI-backed telecom firms generated sales including Rs 16,414 Crore in exports.
• Over 28,000 jobs created from Rs 4,305 Crore in investments.
• Spectrum allocated for 5G rollout, 126 innovation projects supported under DCIS.

The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for telecom and networking products has significantly boosted domestic manufacturing in India, with beneficiary companies investing Rs 4,305 crore and generating sales worth Rs 85,391 crore, including exports of Rs 16,414 crore, as of May 31, 2025. This initiative has also created employment for 28,067 people, according to Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The PLI scheme, with a total outlay of Rs 12,195 crore, has approved 42 companies as beneficiaries comprising 28 MSMEs and 14 non-MSMEs to encourage local production of telecom and networking equipment.

To facilitate the rollout of 5G services, the government has assigned spectrum in the 700 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands to Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) through auctions held in 2022 and 2024. The successful bidders are permitted to deploy any International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) technology, including 5G.

The government is also driving digital transformation across postal services. New initiatives include digitisation of Post Office Savings Bank services, a paperless system for Postal Life Insurance, the creation of Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras, and partnerships with e-commerce platforms to promote financial and digital services in both rural and urban areas.

Also Read: PLI Scheme Propels India's Electronics Exports to 3rd Spot Globally in One Fiscal: Minister

In addition, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is promoting innovation through schemes like the Digital Communications Innovation Square (DCIS), which has supported 126 projects by start-ups and MSMEs, with a budget of Rs 108 crore. These projects aim to develop advanced telecom technologies, including indigenous 5G.

Furthering digital inclusion, the BharatNet project has made 2,14,325 Gram Panchayats service-ready to deliver high-speed broadband connectivity across the country.