New Delhi: Access to capital, resources, and technology was his government’s priority, Prime Minister Modi said at a flagship tech event in New Delhi Friday while industry leaders pointed out that India’s robust digital infrastructure could help the world economy.
Addressing the 7th edition of the India Mobile Congress – Asia’s largest digital technologies forum – Modi said India would lead in 6G after having seen the fastest 5G mobile telephony rollout. “Four lakh 5G base stations have been set up within one year of the rollout… They are covering 97 per cent of cities and more than 80 per cent of the population,” Modi said.
Underscoring his government’s commitment to digital infrastructure, the Prime Minister revealed that India had reached the 43rd position in mobile broadband speed from the previous rank of 118.
“The future is here and now,” he said, adding the IMC event “held in the time of a rapidly-changing world” could change the lives of crores of people in India.
Modi also said the future was going to be very different under the leadership of India’s youth whether it was in telecom, technology, and connectivity or in 6G, AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, drones or space sector, deep sea, or the green sector.
He highlighted that prior to 2014, India imported mobile phones but now had become an exporter and the second-largest mobile manufacturer in the world. “Google has decided to produce its pixel devices in India, joining Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and iPhone 15 in local manufacturing,” Modi said.
At the event, the Prime Minister also inaugurated 100 5G labs in colleges across the country.
Speaking before Modi, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Prime Minister’s “clear focus on the telecom sector – the gateway to Digital India – had democratised technology and made it people-centric”.
Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said the world has noted the prowess of India’s digital infrastructure “which can accelerate the world economy, especially in those countries which lack infrastructure”.
Reliance Jio Chairman Akash Ambani said Modi had given his generation an “aspirational vision” to transform the country into “Viksit Bharat” (developed India). The company demonstrated at the event India’s satellite-based giga fibre service, known as JioSpaceFiber, which will bring high-speed broadband connectivity to remote regions at cost-effective rates.
Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group Kumarmangalam Birla said his Vodafone Idea was poised to make substantial investment for the rollout of 5G. He also said Vi had been actively developing advanced-use cases in various sectors, including agriculture, automotive and logistics.
Organised by the Department of Communications, the India Mobile Congress hosts a three-day international conference and a technology exhibition.