New Delhi: India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024 has announced its theme, 'The Future is Now', unveiled by Union Minister for Communications and Development of Northeastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. The event is set to take place from 15 October at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, positioning India at the forefront of technological evolution.

IMC 2024 aims to showcase innovative solutions, services, and cutting-edge use cases in the technology ecosystem. The event will facilitate over 500 one-to-one meetings and interactions with more than 1,000 potential investors, angels, incubators, and VC funds. Concurrently, India will host the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly New Delhi 2024 (WTSA 2024) and the Global Standards Symposium (GSS 2024) from 14-24 October at the same venue.

Scindia also launched the Indian Mobile Congress 2024 application and website, enabling registration for delegates, visitors, academia, government, and media. In his keynote address, he emphasised the role of technology in bridging divides across the country. He highlighted India's transition from being a consumer to a supplier of technology, praising various telecom interventions such as The Telecom Act 2023, the PLI Scheme, and the fastest 5G rollout.

The event saw the announcement of the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Telecom Excellence Awards 2023. Awardees included Dr. Kiran Kumar Kuchi, Professor at IIT Hyderabad, for contributions in telecom technology advancement and mentorship; Elena Geo Systems Private Limited for advancing NavIC-based devices and applications; Astrome Technologies Private Limited for pioneering millimetre-wave multi-beam technology; Tejas Networks Limited for telecom innovations and equipment manufacturing; and Nivetti Systems Private Limited for secure networking products.

IMC 2024 is expected to attract over 400 exhibitors, 640 startups, and more than 150,000 attendees, including delegates from over 120 countries. The event will feature over 900 technology use case scenarios, 100+ sessions, and talks by more than 600 speakers. The Aspire startup programme aims to facilitate over 500 one-to-one meetings with more than 1,000 potential investors, angels, incubators, and VC funds.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched a reimbursement scheme to ease financial burdens for startups and Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs) in the telecom sector. The scheme will reimburse up to INR 50 lakhs per startup or MSE for testing and certification costs, fostering domestic manufacturing, attracting investments, and enhancing exports. More information on eligibility criteria and application guidelines can be found on the DoT's official website.

In addition, the DoT and NTIPRIT have signed an MoU with IIT Jammu for expert-level training in cybersecurity. As India grows in telecommunications and information technology, there is a growing need for cybersecurity tools and skilled manpower. This programme will provide core technical training and expertise in cybersecurity, developing advanced tools and preparing cyber experts. The training will be a six-month hybrid (in-campus and online) programme for 30 selected officers, who will then train others, creating a strong set of professionals for India. /BI