About Indian cellular association
Indian Cellular Association: Empowering the Indian Mobile Industry
Indian Cellular Association (ICA) is a non-governmental organization that represents the interests of mobile phone manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in India. Established in 2005, ICA has been instrumental in shaping the policies and regulations that govern the mobile industry in India. With over 50 members, including global giants like Samsung, Apple, and Nokia as well as local players like Micromax and Lava, ICA is a powerful voice for the Indian mobile industry.
The Indian mobile market is one of the largest and fastest-growing markets in the world. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, India surpassed the US to become the second-largest smartphone market globally in 2019. The growth of this market has been driven by factors such as increasing affordability of smartphones, rising internet penetration, and government initiatives like Digital India.
However, with growth comes challenges. The Indian mobile industry faces several issues such as high taxes on devices and components, lack of infrastructure for manufacturing components locally leading to dependence on imports from China or other countries which can be disrupted due to geopolitical tensions or pandemics like COVID-19.
This is where ICA comes into play. As an association representing all stakeholders involved in making phones available to consumers across India - manufacturers who design them; distributors who bring them into stores; retailers who sell them directly - it plays an important role in advocating for policies that support their interests while also ensuring consumer protection.
ICA's mission is to promote sustainable growth of this sector through advocacy efforts aimed at creating an enabling environment for its members' businesses while also protecting consumers' interests by ensuring quality products are sold at fair prices with adequate after-sales service support.
One way ICA achieves its mission is through regular engagement with policymakers at both central and state levels on issues related to taxation policy reform or infrastructure development needed for component manufacturing locally which will reduce dependence on imports from China or other countries. ICA also works closely with other industry associations like the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to ensure that the mobile industry's voice is heard in policy-making circles.
ICA has been successful in achieving several milestones since its inception. One such achievement was when it successfully lobbied for a reduction in GST rates on mobile phones from 12% to 18% which led to a significant increase in sales volume. Another milestone was when it worked with the government to establish a Mobile Standards Alliance India (MSAI), which aims at ensuring quality standards for mobile devices sold in India.
ICA also plays an important role in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship within the Indian mobile industry. It has launched initiatives like 'Mobile10X' which provides mentorship, funding, and incubation support to startups working on innovative solutions for the mobile ecosystem.
In conclusion, ICA is an essential organization that plays a crucial role in shaping policies that govern India's fast-growing mobile industry. Its advocacy efforts have helped create an enabling environment for its members' businesses while also protecting consumers' interests by ensuring quality products are sold at fair prices with adequate after-sales service support. With its focus on promoting sustainable growth through innovation and entrepreneurship, ICA is poised to continue empowering India's mobile industry well into the future.