India’s M2M cellular market is accelerating, with active connections projected to reach 200 million by the end of 2026 as per Techarc estimates, doubling in a year. It estimates that in 2026 India will add 100 mn M2M cellular connections equalling to the cumulative number of connections by the end of 2025. Growth is being propelled by large government programs, rapid operator expansion—especially Airtel and Jio—and a shift from pilots to nationwide rollouts in smart metering, connected vehicles, and logistics.

The Mumbai Metro Aqua Line was envisioned as a landmark in India’s urban mobility story as a modern, sustainable corridor that would redefine how Mumbaikars commute. Yet, despite the state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology investments, one persistent issue continues to frustrate commuters: poor mobile connectivity. This is not a trivial inconvenience, but reflects deeper systemic gaps in how India is approaching the integration of digital infrastructure within urban development.