India, Jan. 21 -- The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the critical importance of telecommunications in enabling a digital economy. Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic and the ongoing financial worries, the telecom industry in India managed to contribute during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Telecom services have evolved as the essential service like water and electricity, today it is not a vertical industry anymore, but contributes horizontally to running and stimulate the growth of other industries as well.

The telecom network in India covers more than 5,00,000 villages. Though the ARPU is under pressure, TSPs in India have managed to reach among the top contributors in FDI over the last two decades.

The industry contributes near...