This paper examines the resurgence of industrial policy in telecommunications by comparatively analyzing national telecommunications strategies from 3G to 5G across four countries: China, India, South Korea, and the US. The study highlights the state's evolving role in promoting innovation, manufacturing, and network deployment, framing these within three industrial policy models: innovation-centric, manufacturing-centric, and network deployment-centric. Drawing on case studies and policy analysis, the paper demonstrates how industrial policy is regaining prominence amid emerging technologies and global rivalry. The findings offer insights into the design and impact of industrial policies and provide a foundation for anticipating national approaches to 6G.
