New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Telecommunication Union – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 and the 8th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. The Prime Minister also toured the exhibition showcased during the event, highlighting India’s advancements in the telecom sector.
In his address, PM Modi welcomed distinguished guests, including Union Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Shri Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, ITU Secretary General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, and industry leaders from across the globe. He expressed gratitude for India being chosen as the venue for WTSA’s first meeting, describing India as one of the most dynamic countries in the telecom sector.
Highlighting India’s telecom achievements, PM Modi cited the country’s vast mobile user base of 1.2 billion people, 950 million internet users, and its leading role in digital transactions, which account for over 40% of the world’s real-time transactions. He praised India’s digital connectivity as a vital tool for last-mile delivery of government services.
PM Modi underscored the significance of WTSA’s focus on global telecommunication standards, paired with IMC’s emphasis on services. He called the event a unique convergence of global standards and local services, adding that it represents a step towards fostering global collaboration in the telecom industry. “Consensus and connectivity are the dual pillars that will guide the future of global telecommunications,” he said.
The Prime Minister also discussed India’s leadership in telecom reforms and infrastructure, from expanding mobile networks in remote areas to the rapid installation of public Wi-Fi and undersea cables connecting distant islands. He noted that India has laid enough optical fiber in the past decade to stretch eight times the distance from Earth to the Moon. Additionally, PM Modi highlighted India’s swift rollout of 5G technology, now covering nearly every district, and shared that the country is already progressing towards 6G infrastructure.
Discussing India’s low-cost data revolution, PM Modi said, “In India, the cost of one GB of data is just 12 cents, compared to global rates which are 10 to 20 times higher. Today, the average Indian consumes 30 GB of data per month.”
He also emphasized the role of digital platforms, such as the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile), in transforming the country’s economy and creating new opportunities for innovation. PM Modi highlighted initiatives like Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) as examples of India’s digital prowess.
The Prime Minister commended the “Network of Women” initiative and stressed India’s efforts toward women-led development, especially in technology. He celebrated the growing number of women in STEM education and India’s programs promoting digital inclusion among women, such as the Namo Drone Didi and Bank Sakhi programs.
Addressing global digital governance, PM Modi called for the creation of a global framework for technology standards and cybersecurity. He urged international cooperation to combat cyber threats and emphasized India’s commitment to a secure digital ecosystem through its Data Protection Act and National Cyber Security Strategy.