India Mobile Congress and the country's success in telecom sector reflect strength of Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision: PM Modi

Welcoming all dignitaries to the special edition of the India Mobile Congress, Shri Modi noted that numerous startups had presented on critical themes including Financial Fraud Prevention, Quantum Communication, 6G, Optical Communication, and Semiconductors.

The Prime Minister remarked that witnessing presentations on such vital subjects reinforces the belief that India’s technological future rests in capable hands. He extended his best wishes for the event and all new initiatives.

Highlighting that the India Mobile Congress has evolved beyond mobile and telecom, emerging within a few years as Asia’s largest digital technology forum, the Prime Minister questioned how this success story was written and who drove it, and affirmed that it was shaped by India’s tech-savvy mindset, led by the youth and powered by the nation’s talent.

The Prime Minister remarked that innovators and startups have propelled this growth, made possible by a government that stands firmly with the country’s potential. He cited initiatives such as the Telecom Technology Development Fund and Digital Communications Innovations Square, through which startups are being funded.

The Prime Minister stated that the government is financing test beds for technologies like 5G, 6G, advanced optical communications, and tera-hertz to enable product development. He emphasized that partnerships between startups and premier research institutes are being facilitated, and that with government support, Indian industry, startups, and academia are collaborating across sectors.

He noted that India is advancing in every dimension—developing and scaling indigenous technologies, creating intellectual property through R&D, and contributing to global standards. He added that these efforts have positioned India as an effective platform on the global stage.

“India Mobile Congress and India’s success in the telecom sector reflect the strength of the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision,” exclaimed the Prime Minister, recalling how the idea of ‘Make in India’ was once mocked by skeptics who doubted India’s ability to produce technologically advanced products, citing delays of decades in adopting new technologies during earlier regimes.

Modi affirmed that the nation has responded decisively. He highlighted that the country which once struggled with 2G now has 5G coverage in nearly every district adding that electronics production has increased sixfold since 2014, mobile phone manufacturing has grown twenty-eight times, while its exports have surged by one hundred twenty-seven times.

Over the past decade, the mobile phone manufacturing sector has generated millions of direct jobs.

He cited recent data from a major smartphone company showing that 45 Indian firms are now part of its supply chain, creating approximately 3.5 lakh jobs—just from one company. The Prime Minister emphasized that numerous companies are manufacturing at scale across the country, and when indirect opportunities are added, the employment figures become even more substantial.

“India recently launched its Made-in-India 4G stack, marking a major indigenous achievement, with this India has now joined the list of five countries globally with this capability,” remarked Modi calling it a significant step towards digital self-reliance and technological independence.

He stated that through the indigenous 4G and 5G stack, India will not only ensure seamless connectivity but also deliver high-speed internet and reliable services to its citizens.

The Prime Minister informed that on the day of the 4G stack launch, nearly one lakh 4G towers were activated simultaneously across the country, enabling over two crore people to become part of India’s digital movement. He emphasized that many of these areas were remote and previously lagging in digital connectivity, and now internet access has reached all such regions.

Modi highlighted another key feature of India’s Made-in-India 4G stack—its export readiness. He remarked that this indigenous stack will serve as a medium for India’s business outreach and contribute significantly towards achieving the ‘India 6G Vision 2030’.

Emphasising that India’s technology revolution has advanced rapidly over the past decade, and to match this speed and scale, a strong legal and modern policy foundation was long needed, the Prime Minister highlighted the enactment of the Telecommunications Act, which replaced the outdated Indian Telegraph Act and Indian Wireless Telegraph Act—laws that predated the birth of many present-day citizens.

Modi emphasized the necessity of establishing a new framework aligned with 21st-century approaches, which the government has successfully implemented. He remarked that the new law functions not as a regulator but as a facilitator adding that approvals have become easier, and Right-of-Way permissions are now granted more swiftly.

As a result, Modi stated, fibre and tower network expansion is accelerating, enhancing the ease of doing business, encouraging investments, and enabling industries to plan for the long term.

The Prime Minister emphasized that cyber security is being accorded equal priority in the country. He stated that laws against cyber frauds have been made stricter, accountability has been enhanced, and grievance redressal mechanisms have been improved. He remarked that both industry and consumers are significantly benefiting from these measures.

Underlining that the world is increasingly recognizing India’s potential, the Prime Minister highlighted that India holds the position of the second-largest telecom market and the second-largest 5G market globally. Alongside market strength, India possesses manpower, mobility, and a progressive mindset.

Modi emphasized that when it comes to manpower, India demonstrates both scale and skill. He noted that India is home to the world’s largest youth population, and this generation is being trained at a massive scale. He remarked that India today has the fastest-growing developer population in the world.

Noting that the cost of one GB of wireless data in India is now lower than the price of a cup of tea, Modi highlighted that India ranks among the leading nations in per-user data consumption, signifying that digital connectivity is no longer a privilege or luxury but an integral part of everyday life.

“India leads with a mindset focused on expanding industry and investment,” said Modi, emphasising that the country’s democratic setup, the government’s welcoming approach, and ease of doing business policies have established India as an investor-friendly destination.

He cited the success of India’s digital public infrastructure as proof of the government’s digital-first mindset. With full confidence, the Prime Minister declared, “This is the best time to invest, innovate and make in India!” He affirmed that from manufacturing to semiconductors, mobiles to electronics, and startups across sectors, India is brimming with possibilities and energy.

Recalling his recent Independence Day address from the Red Fort, where he declared the current year as one of major reforms and transformative change, the Prime Minister stated that the pace of reforms is accelerating, thereby increasing the responsibility of industry and innovators.

He emphasized the crucial role of startups and young innovators, who are creating new pathways and opportunities through their speed and risk-taking abilities. Shri Modi expressed satisfaction that this year, the India Mobile Congress has invited over 500 startups, providing them with valuable opportunities to connect with investors and global mentors.

Reiterating that established players continue to play a growing role in the sector’s expansion, Shri Modi remarked that these players provide stability, scale, and direction to propel the nation’s economy forward, backed by strong research and development capabilities. “India will be empowered by the speed of startups and the scale of established players working together, emphasised the Prime Minister.

Emphasising that several critical areas within the industry require collaborative efforts from young startup innovators, academia, the research community, and policymakers, the Prime Minister expressed hope that platforms like the India Mobile Congress would serve as effective catalysts for such dialogue.

He urged attention to global supply chain disruptions across mobile, telecom, electronics, and the broader technology ecosystem, stating that wherever global bottlenecks exist, India has the opportunity to offer solutions.

Modi cited the example of semiconductor manufacturing, where capacity was previously concentrated in a few countries, and the world now seeks diversification. He further affirmed that India has taken significant steps in this direction, with work underway on ten semiconductor manufacturing units across the country.

The Prime Minister stated that in electronics manufacturing, global companies are seeking trusted partners who can deliver both scale and reliability.

Modi remarked that in mobile manufacturing, components such as chipsets, batteries, displays, and sensors must increasingly be produced within the country. He noted that the world is generating more data than ever before, making issues of storage, security, and sovereignty critically important.

The Prime Minister affirmed that by advancing work on data centers and cloud infrastructure, India has the potential to emerge as a global data hub. The Prime Minister concluded by expressing hope that the upcoming sessions will continue with the same approach and focus. He once again extended his best wishes to all participants for the entire India Mobile Congress programme.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani were present among other dignitaries at the event.