MC EXCLUSIVE Beyond smartphones: MediaTek India bets on automotive, 5G, data centres to power next phase of growth

Anku Jain

Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek, which commands a 47 percent share of India’s smartphone market, is strategically diversifying into new vertical such as automotive, data centres and ASICs to drive its next phase of growth.

In an interview to Moneycontrol, MediaTek India managing director Anku Jain outlines the strategy to democratise 5G, India’s progress in semiconductor manufacturing, the PLI schemes and why he believes the ecosystem is finally coming together. Edited excerpts of the interview:

How do you see the Indian handset industry evolving and what’s your outlook for the market?

We’ve been in the Indian market for a long time and recently, we’ve been particularly vocal about the 5G ecosystem buildup in India. Our 5G strategy has always been to serve the entire market—from mainstream to premium to flagship segments. This gives our OEM partners flexibility to design devices suited for their consumers and helps democratise advanced technology for both flagship and mainstream users. Over the years, smartphone penetration in India has grown tremendously, and I’m proud that MediaTek has played a key role in that journey. Today, our market share stands at around 47 percent, which is substantial.

We continue to launch better and more powerful 5G chipsets while also aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a leader in 6G technology. We’ve been working on 6G for several years, and by the time the ecosystem is ready, we’ll be there. India is a very important market for us, and we’re here for the long haul.

Affordability remains a concern in India, with a large number of feature phone users. How do you see the shift to 4G and 5G devices?

Affordability is indeed crucial, especially since smartphones are often the first device that connects users to the internet. A 4G or 5G smartphone empowers users to access digital services, education, and opportunities.

As with every new technology, device prices are coming down. Today, you can find 5G phones around Rs 10,000, and 4G devices are even cheaper. Of course, affordability depends on OEM partners, but our role is to ensure a full portfolio of chipsets—from mainstream to flagship—so that manufacturers can build affordable yet high-quality devices for the Indian market.

The government has been promoting semiconductor manufacturing. How do you view the current ecosystem development — from fabs to OSATs and R&D?

India has had multiple false starts over the last 20 years in building a semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. But this time, I believe things are truly taking off. Events like Semicon India have brought global CEOs and ecosystem players together, creating a strong “follow factor”—where every major supplier wants to be in India because others are here. The government’s PLI schemes have also played a big role in building this momentum.

Already, around ten major semiconductor projects have been announced. This growth isn’t limited to fabs and OSATs but extends to electronics manufacturing as a whole. For MediaTek, even though we’re a fabless company, this ecosystem expansion excites us because it can enable more local collaboration and innovation.

When local fabs and Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facilities become operational, would MediaTek consider sourcing from India?

We’ll certainly evaluate that possibility. It depends on how the ecosystem matures but if it makes sense strategically and commercially, we’d be happy to source locally.

MediaTek has a large R&D presence in India. What roles do your India teams play globally?

Our Indian R&D centers play two key roles. First, we’re an extension of global R&D, working on state-of-the-art technologies like 5G, AI, Wi-Fi, and connectivity—covering both hardware and software design.

Second, as India’s local ecosystem develops, our teams also focus on supporting local partners and companies, helping them integrate and optimize our solutions. This dual focus—global innovation and local collaboration—makes our India operations strategically very important.

Do you have specific programmes or funds to support Indian startups?

We regularly collaborate with large OEMs and technology partners who have R&D centers in India, co-developing solutions and ensuring our chipsets work optimally for Indian network conditions.

As the local ecosystem grows, we expect more such partnerships with startups and smaller firms. Whenever a startup approaches us with a need for specific chipsets or support, we work closely with them to take their product forward.

MediaTek’s chips also power TVs, routers, and other connected devices. How is the non-handset business performing in India?

While we’re best known for our smartphone chipsets, MediaTek is the number one player in India for smart TVs and Wi-Fi routers. These products are in nearly every home.

Looking ahead, we’re expanding into new verticals such as automotive, data centers, and ASICs (application-specific ICs). These will be major growth drivers for us over the next three to five years.

AI has become a major marketing theme for smartphone brands. How is MediaTek enabling AI capabilities at the chipset level?

AI is a core focus for us. Our role is to provide the right infrastructure on the device.
For example, our latest Dimensity 9500 chipset comes with enhanced NPU, APU, and GPU capabilities for advanced on-device AI processing—whether it’s for better photography or real-time inference.

It also features SME2, a technology that allows smaller AI workloads to run efficiently using the CPU instead of the NPU, improving performance and energy efficiency. We design our chipsets to support large language models (LLMs) and small language models (SLMs) alike, ensuring OEMs can deliver powerful AI experiences.

Last year, MediaTek showcased satellite connectivity on smartphones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC). What’s your strategy for SATCOM integration?

Yes, at Mobile World Congress we demonstrated both IoT NTN and NR NTN technologies, which enable low-data and high-speed satellite communications. We already have solutions ready for these use cases. The key now is to see how the business models evolve for satellite communication services. Once the commercial ecosystem takes shape, we’ll actively participate in enabling SATCOM connectivity for smartphones and IoT devices.

Any thoughts on the Indian market?

India is an incredibly important market for MediaTek. The country’s young population, rapid digital adoption, and growing appetite for premium devices present enormous opportunities.
We’re seeing strong demand not just for smartphones but for all smart devices—from TVs to vehicles. This trend of premiumization and digital empowerment motivates us to invest even more in India.