India's First Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) at Gwalior, MP

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, and the Government of Madhya Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 29 July 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The MoU formalizes Phase I of India's first dedicated Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. 

Department of Telecommunications and Government of Madhya Pradesh to Sign MoU

1. Signatories & Key Dignitaries

1. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia – Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region.
2. Dr. Mohan Yadav – Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
3. Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani – Minister of State for Communications & Rural Development.

2. Location & Date

 Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 30 July 2026.

3. Core Objective

Building a world-class manufacturing hub for telecom equipment and allied technologies, strengthening India's domestic telecom manufacturing ecosystem. 

India's First Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) at Gwalior: Project Infrastructure & Investment

1. Plug-and-Play Model: Scindia described the TMZ as a full plug-and-play ecosystem set up jointly by the Madhya Pradesh and central governments, catering to telecom equipment, data centers, and chip manufacturers. Reports place the cluster's spread at roughly 350 acres, with the Madhya Pradesh government providing about 170 acres free of cost. 
2. Financial Allocations: The Centre has cleared a 100% central grant of ₹493 crore for Phase-I of the project.
3. Investment Potential: The zone is expected to attract close to ₹15,000 crore in investment over time.

Focus Areas of the Gwalior TMZ

1. 5G & 6G Hardware: Networking equipment and optical fiber production, alongside dedicated R&D facilities.
2. Semiconductor & Chipsets: Support infrastructure for chip-related manufacturing tied to the telecom sector.
3. Smart Devices: Assembly lines for mobile handsets and allied telecom devices.

Economic & Regional Impact of the MoU

1. Employment Generation: Around 5,000 jobs are projected to be created through the zone.
2. MSME & Startup Boost: The initiative aims to attract investment, encourage indigenous design and manufacturing, and speed up the development of next-generation telecom products across the value chain. 
3. Supply Chain Resilience: The MoU strengthens the centre-state partnership driving India's telecom manufacturing and technology goals, cutting reliance on imported equipment over time.