My Cabinet colleagues Jyotiraditya Scindia ji, Chandrasekhar ji, Secretary-General of ITU, ministers from various countries, ministers from different states of Bharat, industry leaders, telecom experts, young entrepreneurs from the start-up world, distinguished guests from India and abroad, ladies and gentlemen,

A warm welcome to all of you at the India Mobile Congress! I would also like to extend a special welcome to the colleagues from the International Telecom Union (ITU). You have chosen Bharat for WTSA for the first time. I am grateful to you and appreciate your decision.

Friends,

Today, Bharat is one of the most happening countries in the world in the field of telecom and related technologies. Bharat, where there are 120 crore or 1200 million mobile phone users. Bharat, where there are 95 crore or 950 million internet users. Bharat, where more than 40 percent of the world's real-time digital transactions take place. Bharat, which has made digital connectivity an effective tool for last-mile delivery. Discussing global telecommunications standards and the future here will also be a medium for global good. I extend my best wishes to all of you.

Friends,

It is also significant that WTSA and India Mobile Congress are happening together. The goal of WTSA is to work on global standards, while India Mobile Congress plays a major role in services. Therefore, today's event has brought both standards and services together on one platform. Bharat is now focusing heavily on quality services. We are also emphasising our standards. In this context, the experience of WTSA will bring new energy to Bharat.

Friends,

WTSA speaks of empowering the world through consensus. India Mobile Congress talks about empowering the world through connectivity. In this event, both consensus and connectivity are coming together. You understand how important both are for a world roiled with conflicts today. For thousands of years, Bharat has lived by the immortal message of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family). When we had the opportunity to lead the G-20, we also gave the message of "One Earth, One Family, One Future." Bharat is committed to connecting the world and resolving conflicts. From the ancient Silk Road to today's technology routes, Bharat’s mission has always been the same: to connect the world and open new paths of progress. In this context, the partnership between WTSA and IMC also sends an inspiring and excellent message. When local and global come together, it benefits not only one country but the entire world, and this is our goal.

Friends,

In the 21st century, Bharat’s mobile and telecom journey is a subject of study for the entire world. Globally, mobile and telecom have been seen as a convenience. But Bharat’s model has been different. In Bharat, we have not just seen telecom as a means of connectivity but as a medium of equity and opportunity. This medium is helping bridge the gap between villages and cities, and between the rich and the poor. I remember when I presented the vision of Digital India to the country 10 years ago, I said that we should not work in fragments but with a holistic approach. We identified four pillars of Digital India. First, the cost of devices should be low. Second, digital connectivity should reach every corner of the country. Third, data should be accessible to everyone. And fourth, our goal should be ‘Digital First.’ We started working on all four pillars simultaneously, and we have seen the results.

Friends,

Phones could not become affordable until we started manufacturing them in Bharat. In 2014, there were only two mobile manufacturing units in Bharat, but today, there are over 200 manufacturing units. Earlier, we used to import most phones, but now we are producing six times more phones in Bharat, and we are recognised as a mobile exporter. But we have not stopped there. Now, from chips to finished products, we are working towards providing the world with a completely Made-in-India phone. We are also making significant investments in the semiconductor ecosystem in Bharat.

Friends,

Working on the pillar of connectivity, we have ensured that every home in Bharat is connected. We have built a robust network of mobile towers across the country. In tribal areas, hilly regions, and border areas, thousands of mobile towers have been installed in a short time. We have provided Wi-Fi facilities at railway stations and other public places. We have connected islands like Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep through undersea cables. In just 10 years, Bharat has laid optical fiber that is eight times the distance between the Earth and the Moon! Let me give you an example of Bharat’s speed. We launched 5G two years ago at Mobile Congress. Today, almost every district in Bharat is connected to 5G services. Today, Bharat has become the second-largest 5G market in the world, and we are now rapidly working on 6G technology.

Friends,

The reforms and innovations in the telecom sector in Bharat have been unimaginable and unprecedented. As a result, data costs have come down significantly. Today, the cost of internet data in Bharat is around 12 cents per GB, whereas, in many countries, the cost of one GB of data is 10 to 20 times higher. Every Indian is consuming an average of 30 GB of data per month.

Friends,

All these efforts have been taken to a new scale by our fourth pillar— the spirit of ‘Digital First.’ Bharat has democratised digital technology. We have created digital platforms, and the innovations on these platforms have generated millions of new opportunities. The JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile) has become the foundation of many innovations. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has created opportunities for numerous new companies. These days, ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) is being discussed similarly, and it will bring a new revolution in digital commerce. During the Corona pandemic, we saw how our digital platforms made everything easier—whether it was transferring money to those in need, sending real-time guidelines to employees dealing with COVID-19, streamlining the vaccination process, or providing digital vaccination certificates— everything happened smoothly in Bharat. Today, Bharat has a digital bouquet that can elevate welfare schemes to new heights globally. That’s why, during the G-20 presidency, Bharat emphasised digital public infrastructure. And today, I will reiterate that Bharat is happy to share its experience and knowledge related to UPI with all countries.

Friends,

There will be a discussion on the Network of Women initiative at WTSA. This is a very important topic. Bharat is working seriously towards women-led development. During the G-20 presidency, we furthered our commitment to this issue. Bharat is aiming to make the technology sector inclusive and to empower women through technology platforms. You have seen how our women scientists have played a major role in our space missions. The number of women co-founders in our start-ups is continuously increasing. Today, over 40 percent of STEM education participants in Bharat are our daughters. Bharat is creating more and more opportunities for women in technology leadership. You must have heard about the Namo Drone Didi program by the government. This program promotes the use of drones in agriculture, and it is being led by the women of Bharat’s villages. To promote digital banking and digital payments across households, we have also launched the Bank Sakhi program. This means that women have led the digital awareness initiative. In our primary healthcare, maternity, and childcare, ASHA and Anganwadi workers have a significant role. Today, these workers track all this work through tablets and apps. We are also running the Mahila e-Haat program, an online marketing platform for women entrepreneurs. This means that today, the women of Bharat are working with technologies even in villages that were once unimaginable. We are going to expand this initiative even further in the future. I envision a Bharat where every daughter becomes a tech leader.

Friends,

During Bharat’s G-20 presidency, we presented a serious topic to the world. I would like to present this topic on a global platform like WTSA as well. The topic is the global framework and global guidelines for digital technology. The time has come for global institutions to recognise the importance of this for global governance. There needs to be a global set of Dos and Don'ts for technology. Today, all the digital tools and applications operate beyond the boundaries and limitations of any country. No single country can protect its citizens from cyber threats on its own. We must work together, and global institutions must take the responsibility. We know from our experience, just as we have established a global framework for rules and regulations in the aviation sector, a similar framework is needed for the digital world. WTSA needs to work more actively in this regard. I urge every WTSA member to think about how telecommunications can be made safe for everyone. In this interconnected world, security cannot be an afterthought. Bharat’s Data Protection Act and National Cyber Security Strategy demonstrate our commitment to building a safe digital ecosystem. I urge the members of this assembly to create standards that are inclusive, secure, and adaptable to every future challenge. You should develop global standards for Ethical AI and data privacy that respect the diversity of different countries.

Friends,

It is very important that in this technological revolution, we continuously strive to give technology a human-centric dimension. It is our responsibility to ensure that this revolution is responsible and sustainable. The standards we set today will shape the direction of our future. Therefore, the principles of security, dignity, and equity should be at the centre of our discussions. Our goal should be to ensure that no country, no region, and no community is left behind in this digital age. We must ensure that our future is technically strong and ethically sound, with innovation and inclusion at its core.

Friends,

I extend my best wishes and support for the success of WTSA. I wish you all the very best! Thank you very much!

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MJPS/ VJ/VK