Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently stressed that a duopoly in any sector — including telecom — is not ideal for long-term progress. Speaking at a Broadband India Forum event, he highlighted the importance of fostering intense competition among internet service providers to ensure affordability, innovation, and inclusivity.
At present, India’s telecom space is largely controlled by Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, both of which offer robust 4G and 5G services. However, other players are struggling: Vodafone Idea, burdened by debt, has expressed concerns about its survival, while BSNL is still in the process of rolling out 4G and 5G services on a national level.
Scindia announced that the government plans to delicense the 6 GHz spectrum before August 15 — a move that could open doors for improved Wi-Fi services and help bridge India’s digital divide. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to enabling competition in every vertical and said, “It’s not good enough having a duopoly of one or two carriers. Our job is to provide as many avenues as possible.”
The minister also shared that satellite broadband services are on the horizon. Spectrum for satcom services is expected to be assigned soon, although a specific timeline was not provided.
Former TRAI Chairman R.S. Sharma also raised the issue of limited telecom options, reinforcing the need to broaden consumer access and reduce costs.
As India accelerates its digital transformation, these policy shifts aim to ensure that no single or dual player dictates the future of connectivity. Instead, the focus is on building a resilient, competitive, and future-ready telecom ecosystem for all.