My colleagues in the Union Cabinet, Jyotiraditya Scindia Ji, Minister of State Chandrasekhar Pemmasani Ji, ministers from various state governments, all members of the GSMA Board, representatives of telecom operators from across the world, industry leaders, experts, my young friends who have come from different colleges and startups across the country, ladies and gentlemen.

Today is October 8, a special day for India. We celebrate this day as Air Force Day. I pay my respects to all our brave Air Warriors and extend my greetings to the nation on Air Force Day.

Friends,

As Scindia Ji just mentioned, only yesterday I completed 25 years of serving the nation as the Head of Government. For me, this has been a natural and continuous journey of service. I express my gratitude to every citizen of the country and every friend of India across the world for their good wishes.

Friends,

It is also a coincidence that on this occasion, the India Mobile Congress is completing ten years. This year, India was chosen to host the GSMA Board meeting. I welcome and congratulate all of you representatives of telecom operators, industry leaders, experts, academia, and startups who have come here from across the world.

Friends,

This very morning, we received the news that the renowned actor Nana Patekar Ji is no longer among us. He was an outstanding artist who won the hearts of audiences through a wide range of roles. Nana Patekar Ji dedicated his life to the honour, pride, and glory of the Tricolour. He never allowed himself to be confined; like a bird, he soared across the skies of cinema. Through his films, he launched powerful attacks on disorder and injustice in society. He was a true revolutionary who worked against social evils. His words were powerful, and his silence was equally impactful. He consistently supported firm action against those who worked against the nation. I pay my tribute to Nana Patekar Ji and express my condolences to his family members and admirers.

Friends,

I have had the opportunity to join you at several editions of the India Mobile Congress. This platform has witnessed how the telecom sector and digital connectivity have evolved. In 2022, from this very stage, we launched 5G in the country. In 2023, I spoke about how India was moving from 5G Roll-out to 5G Reach-out. Today, we can all see that 5G connectivity has reached every district of the country. More than 550,000 base stations are now operating across India, providing 5G services. Mobile internet speeds have increased tenfold compared to 2022.

Friends,

At the 2024 edition of India Mobile Congress, we witnessed the presence of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). At that time, we discussed the need for global standards for the digital world. Last year, we deliberated on Invest, Innovate, and Make in India. The position that India has achieved today in the telecom sector owes much to India Mobile Congress. Over the years, this platform has emerged as a stage for India's progress and India's aspirations. Therefore, I extend special congratulations to all of you.

Friends,

This year, you have chosen the theme of your deliberations as "Scale Without Boundaries." I would like to share India's experience of how we have turned the dream of scaling beyond boundaries into a reality.

Friends,

When we talk about telecom, discussions often revolve around networks, spectrum debates, towers, reach, and speed. But for the people of India, telecom has meant much more. Over the past decade, the mobile phone has emerged not only as a tool of modern communication but also as an important instrument of good governance. This has remained at the core of our Digital India vision.

Friends,

Today, we hear that data in India is affordable, mobile phones are affordable, and the user base has expanded dramatically. All of this is true. But how did it happen? And why was all this done? When we understand this, India's focus and priorities become crystal clear.

Friends,

Until a decade ago, the digital divide was a major challenge in India. Modern technology was increasingly becoming a privilege. In other words, only those with resources could benefit from modern technology. India was also moving in that direction. Through the Digital India campaign, we resolved to change this situation and placed the mobile phone at its centre. This was a major effort towards the democratization of technology. For this purpose, all necessary reforms were carried out in the telecom sector and infrastructure was expanded. We also focused on ensuring that mobile phones and other telecom hardware would be manufactured in India itself.

Friends,

As a result of these efforts, mobile phones and data became far more accessible and affordable for ordinary Indians. Today, this is enhancing the ease of living of our citizens. During the COVID period, we witnessed how almost everything came to a standstill. Yet offices continued functioning, banks remained operational, and education continued in India. This was made possible by India's digital ecosystem. Mobile and internet connectivity ensured uninterrupted access to education, healthcare, payments, and government services. Today, even children from remote villages and underprivileged backgrounds can access quality knowledge. Digital learning is increasingly becoming accessible to everyone.

Friends,

Let me share a statistic that further demonstrates the impact of Digital India. We have a platform called DIKSHA for online education. During the COVID period, by July 2022, more than 5 billion learning sessions and nearly 600 billion learning minutes had been recorded on this platform. Our effort now is to connect nearly 250 million students to all our digital and online education platforms.

In other words, friends,

The revolution in the telecom sector has directly benefited Indian citizens. As you know, India is diverse in every sense, in language as well as geography. Such diversity can also create many inconveniences in people's lives. Mobile connectivity has transformed this diversity into convenience. Earlier, most banks were located in cities, hospitals were concentrated in urban areas, and government offices were typically available only at block or district headquarters. Any government service required significant investment of both time and money. Digital governance has changed these conditions. Today, hundreds of government services are available through mobile phones. Government assistance is now transferred directly to beneficiaries' accounts. Through Direct Benefit Transfer, nearly ₹50 lakh crore has reached beneficiaries directly in their bank accounts. As a result, nearly ₹5 lakh crore has been prevented from falling into the wrong hands. This is not a small figure. Nearly ₹5 lakh crore has been saved from misuse.

Now tell me, those whose easy earnings have stopped, will they love Modi? Did I do the right thing or not? Should this have been done or not? Should such wrong practices be stopped or not? They may shout and scream as much as they want, but I have made up my mind and I will continue in this direction.

If the old system had remained in place, around ₹5 lakh crore of government money would have been lost through leakages and would have filled the pockets of such people. We stopped this. Now that money reaches the rightful beneficiary, and the savings are being utilized for productive purposes.

Friends,

Under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, we have already deposited more than ₹4 lakh crore directly into the bank accounts of farmers. This amount is transferred every four months, and the farmer receives a notification directly on his mobile phone. This money has reached crores of small farmers who, in the past, often remained beyond the reach of government schemes.

In other words, friends,

The mobile phone is no longer merely a medium for communication. It has ensured less travel, less waiting, less cost, and greater convenience. This is the greatest citizen dividend that technology can deliver.

Friends,

Over the past decade, India's telecom infrastructure has expanded continuously. Towers have been installed in remote areas, optical fibre networks have expanded on an unprecedented scale, and data has become more affordable. This has also given rise to entirely new sectors of the economy. It has created new consumers in technology, entertainment, and education, while simultaneously nurturing a new generation of creators. Take gaming as an example. It is estimated that today more than 500 million people in India are connected to the gaming ecosystem in one way or another. A large proportion of them are young Indians. Youth from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are also actively participating. They are not only playing games but competing in e-sports, creating gaming content, and building new gaming businesses. In other words, the mobile phone in India has become both a gaming console and a creation studio.

Friends,

The telecom revolution in India has brought a similar transformation in the world of content. Better and faster connectivity, coupled with affordable data, has taken video-sharing platforms, social media, and regional OTT services to villages and small towns. As a result, many language-related barriers and limitations have been removed. Today, the content creation industry alone is worth thousands of crores of rupees in India and provides income opportunities for millions of people. In other words, the mobile phone has democratized content creation in India.

Friends,

At a time when telecom and digital technology are playing such a critical role, it is equally important that we strengthen the security framework associated with them. The security of phones and the security of networks are priorities for all of us. An ordinary citizen does not think in terms of protocols or architecture; for them, trust is what matters most. When they receive a call, they should know who is calling. When they receive a message, they should know whether it is genuine or fake. When they make a payment, they should be confident that their money is secure. When they provide their data through a form, they should know that their information is protected.

Friends,

Technology achieves scale only when it earns trust. And we all know that cyber fraud and cybercrime do not respect borders. They have already crossed boundaries. A person sitting in one country may commit a crime in a third country with assistance from a second country. We are also witnessing how serious a challenge deepfakes have become. Therefore, it is necessary that we work on a global framework to address these issues. Governments, technology companies, telecom operators, and financial institutions must all become part of such a framework. I would also urge GSMA and telecom operators around the world to come together and create a global mechanism that can stop such fraud even before it reaches people. India has learned a great deal through its own experiences, and India is always ready to share those experiences with the world.

Friends,

Only four years remain in this decade. The discussions that take place at this edition of India Mobile Congress will strengthen the roadmap for the next decade. And this roadmap will guide not only India but the global mobile market as well. Over the past years, India has progressed from being a consumer to becoming a creator. Now India is moving towards a future where products and designs will originate in India, and their technology and intellectual property will also belong to India. To achieve this, every necessary incentive is being provided and every necessary reform is being undertaken. In other words, the reform express is moving rapidly forward in the telecom sector as well. We are modernizing laws that are decades old. Through the Telecommunications Act, we have created a modern regulatory framework. We are also rationalizing structural burdens such as AGR and bank guarantees, transforming burdens into opportunities. The GatiShakti Sanchar Portal has accelerated Right of Way approvals through digital processes.

Friends,

India's semiconductor and semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem is also gathering momentum. Commercial production has already started at five locations. In the next phase of the India Semiconductor Mission, our focus will be on the entire supply chain. In other words, India is taking major strides in every area associated with the telecom sector.

Friends,

Over the years, India Mobile Congress has achieved a great deal. However, the journey of development is one of continuously crossing new milestones. We have before us the grand resolve of a Developed India, and for that we must continuously broaden our efforts. The technologies showcased here certainly have their own importance. But IMC should be remembered for the partnerships that were forged here, for the research projects that were launched here, for the products that reached the world from here, and for the innovations that emerged from India and served humanity. We must transform IMC into a platform that serves as a junction for technology, research, industry, investment, and ideas. I am confident that all of you will continue to work towards this goal with complete dedication. With this expectation, I once again extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all of you.

Thank you very much.

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of Prime Minister’s address. Original address was delivered in Hindi. 

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