After hosting the first edition of IMC successfully in 2017, the DoT is all set for this year’s mobile and technology event. The IMC 2018 event will resemble the Mobile World Congress and will see the presence of big players from mobile and telecom industry. “The India Mobile Congress 2018, hosted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), is an excellent platform for policy makers, industry and regulators to engage in meaningful deliberations to drive the future direction of this important sector. This year, we will also be honoured by the presence of our friends from ASEAN and BIMSTEC which will lend a global connect to our exchanges,” said Mr. Sinha at the curtain raiser ceremony. The IMC 2018 expects more than 200,000 professionals from the telecom industry focusing on 5G, startup ecosystem, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Smart Cities, and other allied industry sectors. The exhibition would also feature more than 1,300 exhibitors. Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan, said, “We are at the cusp of a tectonic shift in human history with the advent of futuristic technologies such as 5G and IoT. India is gearing up to embrace this new digital future with our focus on 5G readiness and the facilitation of new technology adoption across sectors.” Just like the IMC 2017, the internet and technology event will be organized by COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India), an association of mobile service providers in India. “With more than 1.2 billion subscribers, mobile now connects the whole of India. It is fuelling innovation, revolutionizing industries and spurring exciting new opportunities, across both developed and developing markets,” said Rajan S Mathews, Director General, COAI. The first edition of IMC was held in September 2017. The event was attended by around 2,000 delegates, 100 exhibitors, and 100 start-ups. The three-day event had 21 sessions based on themes like ‘Digital India’, ‘Smart Network: The future of networking’, ‘Emerging Technologies in a 5G Future’ among many others.
