‘India global leader in data affordability, second-largest 5G market in the world’ says PM Modi at IMC 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick-started the 8th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024 in New Delhi on Tuesday, showcasing India’s impressive strides in the telecommunications sector. During his address, the PM proudly declared that India has emerged as the world’s second-largest 5G market and is already making headway in 6G development.

Speaking to a diverse audience that included members from the World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA), the Prime Minister emphasised that telecom in India stands for equity and opportunity, reflecting the country’s broader vision for digital inclusion.

India leads in affordable internet access: PM Modi
One of the key points in PM Modi’s speech was the staggering reduction in data costs in India, which now offers internet access at an incredibly low rate of just 12 cents per gigabyte. He highlighted that this affordability has placed India at the forefront of global digital accessibility, allowing millions of Indians to stay connected. In contrast, many other countries charge up to 10 or 12 times more for the same data usage.

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This drastic drop in data prices is a cornerstone of India’s Digital India initiative, which seeks to bring the benefits of the digital economy to every Indian. PM Modi attributed this success to several factors, including significant investment in telecommunications infrastructure, the expansion of 5G networks, and a massive push for local mobile manufacturing.

In fact, the Prime Minister also pointed out that the number of mobile manufacturing units in India has skyrocketed from just two in 2014 to over 200 today, resulting in the production of six times more smartphones than a decade ago. This has not only made mobile devices more accessible but also fuelled a sharp rise in data consumption, with Indians now consuming an average of 30 GB of data per month.

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Expanding digital connectivity
PM Modi also spoke of the government’s investment in fibre networks, stating that India has laid enough fibre to cover eight times the distance between the Earth and the moon. This vast infrastructure has played a critical role in keeping data costs low and providing high-speed internet access across the country. The Prime Minister stressed that maintaining these low costs will remain a priority to ensure that more Indians can benefit from connectivity.

With over 1.2 billion mobile users and 950 million internet users, PM Modi highlighted that India’s digital landscape is one of the most dynamic in the world. He noted that 40 per cent of global real-time digital transactions happen in India, underscoring the country’s dominance in this area.

Paving the way for a digital revolution
PM Modi also touched upon India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), a key driver of opportunity and inclusion. He believes that DPI can transform welfare schemes not just in India but globally, offering a blueprint for equitable digital growth. The Prime Minister also mentioned the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) as a platform that will spark the next wave of digital transformation in the country.

Concluding his speech, PM Modi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to affordable internet access as a crucial part of India’s digital strategy, ensuring that connectivity and the opportunities it brings continue to reach every corner of the nation.