Govt plans new TTDF with higher outlay by October to boost telecom R&D, says Pemmasani

New Delhi The government is planning to launch a new Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) with higher outlay by October, Minister of State for Telecom Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said on Friday.

Speaking at COAI Digicom Summit 2026, he said the ministry has so far sanctioned around ₹540 crore to more than 100 companies under TTDF scheme and many of them are in the 6G space. "We are also coming up with a technology development fund with even more outlay and more co-funding mechanisms so that the fund really does what it's supposed to do," Pemmasani said.

Also read: Boost R&D or lag in 6G race, MoS Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani tells telcos as revenues surge

When asked about the time for launch of the fund, he said that the process has started and expects it to get final approval by October. The minister pitched for promoting innovation in the industry with increased investment in research and development for which the government is also providing financial support. He said the government came up with a PLI (production linked incentive) scheme with an outlay of ₹12,000 crore in which around 42 companies participated and it generated close to ₹62,000 crore of sales.