Niti Aayog says telecom exports can hit $50 billion by 2035

India's telecom and network equipment (TANE) sector has the potential to double its GDP contribution and become a $50 billion export hub by 2035, according to a Niti Aayog report. But the sector remains heavily import-dependent, with over 80% of critical components such as 4G/5G antennas sourced from China, The Times of India, The Hindu Business Line and the Economic Times report.

Domestic TANE exports were only $0.6-1 billion annually between 2020 and 2024, against imports of $4-5 billion a year, the Niti Aayog report said. Indian manufacturers face up to 26% higher fiscal disability than global peers, and domestic value addition is often below 20%, with production concentrated in low-value assembly. The supply chain remains vulnerable because Indian 5G base stations depend on chipsets from Taiwan, optical transceivers from Japan and IP cores from the US.

The government has implemented measures such as the Production Linked Incentive scheme. Niti Aayog said continued policy support could help create 500,000 skilled jobs and meet National Telecom Policy 2025 goals of surging output by 150% and substituting 50% of imports.