Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress on October 8, highlighting changes in India’s telecom and digital sectors, the expansion of 5G services, the growing role of mobile technology in gaming and content creation, and the importance of digital connectivity, semiconductors and cybersecurity.
Modi recalled that India launched 5G services in 2022 from the same platform. According to him, more than 5.5 lakh 5G base stations are now active across the country. With the expansion of 5G networks, mobile internet speeds in India have increased by around 10 times compared with 2022. He said India is advancing not only in network expansion but also in research and global technology standards.
Modi said mobile phones are no longer limited to conversations or chatting and have become an important part of the digital economy, entertainment, business and creative industries. He said the expansion of mobile technology has opened new opportunities in gaming, video production and digital entertainment.
According to the Prime Minister, more than 50 crore people in India are connected to the gaming ecosystem. Young people are developing new businesses and startups in the sector. The expansion of OTT and video platforms in regional languages has also created a larger market for the content industry.
The growing reach of regional digital content has made it easier to reach audiences in local languages. It has also expanded opportunities for creators from smaller cities and different linguistic regions to establish a presence on digital platforms.
Modi also linked digital connectivity with good governance, citing Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) as an example of how technology has helped transfer government scheme funds directly to beneficiaries.
According to the Prime Minister, around Rs 50 lakh crore has been transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through DBT. This has helped prevent leakage of around Rs 5 lakh crore. He also referred to schemes such as PM-Kisan, under which funds are transferred directly to beneficiaries through digital channels.
Modi also highlighted cybersecurity challenges alongside the expansion of digital technology. He said technology can succeed at scale only when people continue to trust it. Cybercrime is not confined to the borders of any one country, making international cooperation necessary to address it.
He called on governments, technology companies and financial institutions to develop a b global framework to prevent cyber fraud. The objective, he said, is to create a shared system to prevent digital fraud from reaching ordinary citizens.
Modi also referred to India’s growing capabilities in the semiconductor sector. He said digital connectivity, telecom infrastructure and technological manufacturing are important foundations for the next phase of India’s digital economy.
