The next export story: A $50 billion prize India can’t afford to miss

India’s telecom equipment industry is still a minor player in global trade. Annual exports of telecom and network equipment stand at just $0.6-1 billion, while imports are four to five times higher. But a new NITI Aayog assessment suggests this imbalance masks a much larger opportunity. With the global telecom equipment market expanding rapidly, India could emerge as a $50 billion export hub by 2035 if it can deepen local manufacturing, reduce dependence on imported components and move beyond low-value assembly.