Gwalior is set to host Asia’s first dedicated Telecom Manufacturing Zone, aiming to boost domestic production, create over 18,000 jobs, and reduce dependency on imports, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected to attend the groundbreaking ceremony on 29 October.
Gwalior is set to host what officials describe as Asia’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone, with the groundbreaking scheduled for 29 October and Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected to attend. According to IANS, the project has been pushed forward by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia over the past two years and has already drawn investment proposals of more than Rs 5,500 crore, alongside expectations of more than 18,000 jobs.
The zone will be built at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Counter Magnet City, or SADA, in Gwalior, and is being planned as a telecom industrial cluster rather than a conventional estate. Officials say it will combine manufacturing, research and development, testing, innovation and advanced technology work in one location, with a plug-and-play model intended to let companies begin production more quickly. The structure is broadly similar to an industrial special economic zone, with shared infrastructure and ready-to-use facilities.
The Economic Times reported that the Department of Telecommunications and the Madhya Pradesh government signed a memorandum of understanding in July 2026, after which investor roadshows in Delhi and Mumbai helped build commitments from manufacturers. India Brand Equity Foundation said those roadshows accounted for roughly Rs 3,500 crore of pledged investment in August and another Rs 2,000 crore in Mumbai, while around 24 companies have started the application process to set up units. The planned first phase covers about 170 acres, including land in SADA and the Gwalior IT Park, according to the same report.
The project is being presented as part of a wider attempt to reduce India’s dependence on imported telecom hardware and strengthen domestic capacity in areas including optical fibre, semiconductors, 5G equipment and emerging 6G technologies. According to business reports, the zone is expected to accommodate more than 24 manufacturing units and related companies, and officials have also pointed to a dedicated incentive package covering land, power, employment and production support. The site’s links to the Agra-Gwalior corridor, rail services and Gwalior airport are being cited as logistical advantages, while the local supply of engineering graduates is expected to help meet labour needs.
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