Gwalior TMZ to attract ₹12,000 crore as PLI extension: Scindia

Representatives of 20 telecom stakeholders, including Jio, Airtel, and Vi, attended the closed-door event. "About 17 companies here have committed investments or committed to invest. They will be going to the drawing board. Many companies that have invested are saying that 80 per cent of their production will be done," Scindia said, citing representatives from OEMs, telcos, chip designers, and bank investors.

The commitments will cover manufacturing, value addition, and IP creation. Several companies expressed interest in setting up their own testing and R&D labs, the minister added.

For the telecom equipment supply chain, the zone creates a dedicated hub that could reduce import dependence for 5G gear, optical fiber, and semiconductor components. The PLI model has already pulled in major players; the TMZ extends that with geographic concentration and higher incentives relative to investment. The government's ₹7,000-8,000 crore incentive package – roughly 60-65% of the projected investment – suggests the zone is designed to make India a competitive export base for 5G and emerging 6G hardware.

The two-phase rollout gives anchor investors time to build before smaller suppliers join. The presence of telcos Jio, Airtel, and Vi as participants signals that the zone will address both domestic sourcing and export opportunities. The R&D lab commitments indicate a push beyond assembly into design and testing, which could strengthen the country's position in global telecom standards.