PM Modi: India's 21st-century Mobile, Telecom Journey is a Global Study

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India's mobile and telecommunications progress in the twenty-first century is a model for the rest of the world.

During the opening ceremony of the eighth edition of the India Mobile Congress 2024, Modi emphasised that telecommunications serve not only as a means of connectivity but also as a conduit for equity and opportunity in India.

"India's mobile and telecommunications evolution in the 21st century is a focal point of global analysis," the prime minister said.

During the 8th edition of the India Mobile Congress 2024, the Prime Minister inaugurated the International Telecommunication Union - World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) 2024.

He underlined the significance of this joint meeting, adding that the WTSA tries to set global standards, whilst the India Mobile Congress focusses on services. He noted that today's event brings together global standards and services on a single platform. The Prime Minister emphasised India's commitment to quality service and standards, claiming that WTSA's experience would re-energise the country.

Modi asserted that India has 1.2 billion mobile phone users and 950 million internet users, with digital transactions accounting for more than 40% of world totals in real-time. He claimed that India has demonstrated how digital connectivity may effectively facilitate last-mile delivery. He praised the delegates for choosing India as the venue for deliberating on global telecommunication standards and the future of telecommunications as a global resource.

During discussions about improvements in the telecom sector, the Prime Minister emphasised India's initiatives to cut data charges. He saw that the cost of internet data in India has dropped to 12 cents per GB, compared to other countries where 1 GB of data costs 10 to 20 times more. "Currently, the average Indian consumes approximately 30 GB of data monthly," he told me.

The Prime Minister emphasised India's commitment to strengthening international relations. "Regardless of the ancient Silk Route or contemporary technological pathways, India's singular objective is to connect the globe and unlock new avenues of advancement," said the leader. He emphasised that the collaboration between WTSA and IMC sends a strong message that both local and global projects may benefit the entire world, not just one nation.

PM Modi asked the WTSA to take a proactive role in developing a secure digital ecosystem and telecommunications channels.