India Could Get Its Own Homegrown Smartphone Brand by October 2028: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Photo Credit: @AshwiniVaishnaw
India could have its own homegrown smartphone brand, designed and manufactured domestically, by October 2028, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said at an event.
Responding to a question from a journalist on why India has yet to develop a smartphone brand comparable to Apple or Samsung, Vaishnaw outlined the government’s ambition to strengthen indigenous smartphone design and manufacturing capabilities.
The minister said India is working towards developing smartphones that incorporate Indian design, technology and intellectual property (IP), marking a potential expansion of the country’s role in the global electronics value chain.
Designing a competitive smartphone requires the integration of multiple technologies, including radio frequency communication, antennas, processors, memory, passive components, camera modules, displays and power management systems. Manufacturers must also optimise device weight, performance and power consumption, making smartphone design a complex engineering challenge.
Vaishnaw said the government challenged Indian designers around three years ago to develop printed circuit boards (PCBs), which serve as the electronic foundation of smartphones. According to the minister, two companies took up the challenge, with one developing a design selected by a major US telecommunications service provider.
The company subsequently designed and delivered a 5G-plus mobile phone, which has been manufactured and supplied to customers. While Vaishnaw did not disclose the names of the companies or the telecom operator, the example highlighted the emergence of domestic capabilities in smartphone design and engineering beyond conventional contract manufacturing.
India has expanded its smartphone manufacturing base over the past several years, becoming an important production hub for domestic and international brands. However, building a globally competitive Indian smartphone brand requires more than manufacturing infrastructure. It also demands expertise in hardware engineering, product design, system integration and intellectual property development.
Vaishnaw said the government intends to build on the progress already made to develop an Indian smartphone brand supported by Indian design, manufacturing and IP. The October 2028 timeline reflects the government’s stated ambition to move beyond assembling devices for global brands towards developing homegrown products.
Achieving this goal will depend on the development of competitive products, technological capabilities and a sustainable domestic ecosystem capable of supporting Indian brands in the global smartphone market.
Source: NDTV Profit
