The Economic Timesยท2025-10-05 08:49Core Insights - Qualcomm is positioning India as a key market due to the government's push for manufacturing and the increasing demand for premium devices [1][10][13] - The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform was launched as the world's fastest mobile system-on-a-chip, featuring a CPU processing speed of up to 4.6 GHz and GPU speed of 1.2 GHz per core [2][12][13] - The chipset includes a hexagon NPU with a 37% performance improvement over its predecessor, enhancing AI capabilities in applications such as real-time translation [6][7][13] Market Position - Snapdragon holds a 40% market share in the smartphone segment priced above Rs 25,000, indicating strong brand recognition in India [1][13] - The chipset will be featured in flagship devices from various global manufacturers, with Chinese smartphone makers leading the adoption [8][13] Government and Industry Engagement - Qualcomm is deepening its engagement with India's digital ecosystem, benefiting from local manufacturing initiatives and the growth of AI and automotive sectors [9][11][13] - The company has established strong relationships across government, retail, and carrier sectors, facilitating new opportunities and collaborations with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) [10][11][13] Employment and Local Impact - Qualcomm employs approximately 20,000 people in India, reflecting its commitment to the local market and workforce [11][13] - The company is actively collaborating with major PC manufacturers in India, enhancing its presence in the personal computer segment [12][13]