Optiemus Infracom is planning to expand its smartphone screen-protector manufacturing capacity by 2 crore units as the government prepares to make BIS certification mandatory for the category from April 1, 2027.
The move follows the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) adding smartphone screen protectors to the list of products covered by the compulsory registration framework on September 21.
Optiemus Chairman Ashok Gupta said nearly 98% of screen protectors in India are currently imported. The company already operates a manufacturing facility and plans to add another 2 crore units of capacity through a new facility. With its existing and planned capacity, Optiemus expects to meet emerging market demand within 6 months.
The company has also entered the segment through RhinoTech, a tempered-glass screen-protector brand using glass engineered by Corning. Optiemus manufactures the products under an exclusive arrangement with Ace Mobile Manufacturers, the licensed exclusive importer of Corning glass.
Its current annual capacity is around 24 million units, while the expansion plan could take total capacity to up to 100 million units.
The market remains largely unorganised and import-dependent. An Axis Capital note, citing Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) findings, said around 90% of screen-protector supply is unorganised or grey, with products largely imported from China at around Rs 2-3 per unit.
The ICEA assessment also highlighted quality concerns. Testing of 7 market samples found that 5 showed zero compressive stress despite being sold as tempered glass.
Axis Capital estimates India’s annual screen-protector market at around 50 crore units and said listed manufacturers such as Optiemus could benefit from the formalisation of the sector.
The ICEA assessment also estimates that India could target around 15% of the global market, creating a potential export opportunity of roughly Rs 20,300 crore.
“This is more than a regulatory change. It is an opportunity to transform a largely import-dependent category into a quality-led, Made-in-India industry—creating stronger businesses, more employment and, ultimately, greater confidence for the Indian consumer,” Gupta said.
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