This year saw transformative shifts across various industries, with notable advancements across sectors. Industry experts share their observations around the same.
Navneet Sharma, COO, ACT Enterprise, “2024 has been a fulfilling year for the enterprise business. We have been able to increase our customer satisfaction by offering more solutions, as we expanded into SD-WAN and managed Wi-Fi, and delved deeper into verticalisation. Our major progress was from connectivity to managed service. Moving forward into 2025, we expect further growth with new technologies coming in and businesses and startups pacing the adoption. Riding on the same, we will be scaling up across portfolios, verticals and geographies We are excited for the year to come and see the development of the industry unfold.”
Subburathinam P, Chief Operating Officer, TeamLease Services, “In 2024, the telecom sector experienced rapid growth driven by 5G rollouts and government initiatives like the PM GatiShakti program, which emphasised digital connectivity across rural and urban India. The sector created significant demand for fibre technicians, NOC personnel, and field engineers, but a shortage of skilled professionals remained a challenge. With India’s broadband market expanding, we anticipate densification, rural connectivity initiatives, and smart city developments to further boost hiring, particularly in roles requiring expertise in advanced network operations and IoT integration in 2025.”
Ram Sellaratnam, Group CEO and Managing Director, iBUS Network and Infrastructure,
5G Deployment:
Telecom Operators deployed extensive 5G coverage, investing heavily in spectrum and infrastructure. However, consumer-centric use cases lagged, leading to only modest revenue growth. India ranked 33rd in the 5G Connectivity Index Q2 2024 (GSMA Intelligence), excelling in affordability and video quality but falling short in innovation-driven adoption. The Department of Telecommunications has also tied up with 60 universities to provide 5G test beds for them to be able to experiment on various aspects of the technology. The telecom industry faces a pivotal decision: invest further in 5G or wait for “killer applications” to catalyze consumer adoption.
Fixed Networks (Hospitality, Retail, and Education):
– Hospitality: Post-COVID “revenge growth” spurred demand, inventory was restructured, this increased occupancy rates. Over 30,000 hotel rooms were signed across 128 Indian cities during 2023/24. The nationwide branded inventory breached 1,80,000 rooms last fiscal, with Upscale-to-Luxury representing 39% of operating rooms, while Mid-to-Upper Midscale contributed 45%, and the remaining 16% were Budget & Economy category Hotels.
– Retail: Malls thrived, supported by increased consumer spending and infrastructure upgrades.
– Education: Rising student enrolment drove demand for reliable internet.
IoT for Energy Efficiency:
Businesses like hospitality, hospitals, etc. have 24*7 operations, resulting in high energy usage. This led them to search for more efficient and cost-effective solutions, resulting in an increasing adoption of IoT technology that enabled businesses in energy-intensive sectors to optimize operations.
Darshil Shah, Founder and Director, TreadBinary, “In 2024, the technology industry made significant strides in a number of areas. Machine learning and generative AI transformed industries by boosting productivity and creating new possibilities. Investments in green technology showed a strong focus on sustainability. Edge computing became more popular, helping process data closer to where it is generated, improving real-time applications. Blockchain technology moved beyond cryptocurrency, finding uses in supply chains, digital identity verification, and secure voting, making processes more trustworthy and efficient. These advancements reflect a growing effort to make technology more efficient, sustainable, and integrated into everyday life.
Looking ahead to 2025, cybersecurity will remain very important as digital transformation grows, with new solutions needed to protect data and networks. Governments are likely to make rules about data privacy, AI ethics, and monopolies clearer and ensure tech companies understand them. AI is expected to become even more embedded in business, with improvements in natural language processing and machine learning making processes faster and smarter. Efforts in green tech will focus on energy-efficient products and innovative ideas to fight climate change. Health technology will advance, improving patient care, remote monitoring, and personalized medicine. Blockchain will become more widely used as industries realize its potential to build trust and improve efficiency.”
Kartik Narayan, CEO-Staffing, TeamLease Services, “The contract staffing industry in FY 25-26 will witness significant transformation driven by seven major trends: Cost and demand pressures would require enterprises to become more efficient and productive which will lead to more organisations formalising their extended workforce and focus on growth and productivity. Geographical sourcing will accelerate as improved migration corridors facilitate talent movement from North and Northeast to Western and Southern India. There is a rising demand for women employees, particularly in manufacturing, due to higher retention, productivity, and advancements in machinery. Regulatory scrutiny will increase as governments push for formal employment and stricter labor law compliance. Businesses will prioritize flexibility and cost efficiency, leveraging contract staffing to manage shorter, unpredictable cycles and optimize labor costs, especially around micro-events like festivals. The focus on learning and skilling will shift towards retaining and upskilling contract workers to improve productivity, reduce attrition, and integrate them into core roles. Finally the gig economy is set to surge from 7.7 million to 23 million by 2030, pushing governments to focus on social security and efficient workforce utilization. These trends collectively highlight a shift toward workforce agility, regulatory adherence, and skill-driven growth.”