India emerges as global digital leader at India Mobile Congress 2025, says Minister Scindia

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia declared that India has progressed from being a technology taker to becoming a global leader in the digital space while inaugurating the India Mobile Congress 2025 on Tuesday.

Detailing the country’s telecom journey, Scindia said mobile data costs have plunged by 98 percent in the past eleven years, from Rs 287 per GB in 2014 to just Rs 9.11 now. He reminisced about when a minute of voice calling was a rare privilege, noting that India today accounts for 20 percent of the world’s mobile population with 1.2 billion subscribers.

He credited the Prime Minister’s vision for turning connectivity into a tool for equity and opportunity, closing the gap between different sections of society. Scindia outlined four key foundations of India’s telecom revolution: democracy, demography, digital first, and delivery, pointing out that 99.9 percent of districts are covered by 5G service and that broadband subscribers have reached 944 million nationwide.

This year’s India Mobile Congress is expected to attract more than one and a half lakh participants from 150 countries, host 1,500 exhibitors, and feature innovations in 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things. A major draw will be the Startup World Cup 2025 India edition, where 550 ventures will seek global visibility and investment.

Highlighting India’s growing strength in indigenous technology, Scindia pointed to the installation of one lakh locally built 4G towers, describing them as “made in India, for India, and for the world.” He said this reflects India’s emergence as a product-driven nation. The Production Linked Incentive scheme has delivered Rs 91,000 crore in output, Rs 18,000 crore in exports, and 30,000 jobs.

Looking ahead, Scindia said the Bharat 6G Alliance aims to secure ten percent of global 6G patents, and satellite communication is set to connect land, sea, and space, with its domestic market projected to reach 15 billion dollars by 2033. “India is not just part of the digital revolution, India is leading it,” he concluded.