Prime Minister Highlights India’s Telecom Revolution, Nationwide 5G Reach and Digital Governance at India Mobile Congress 2026
“Over the years, India has transformed from being a consumer to a creator”: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The first decade brought the world to India; the next decade must take India to the world: Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia
“Our Aim Is Clear: To Connect 1 Billion 5G Users by 2030 and Lead Global Digital Innovation”: Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia
08 OCT 2026 4:53PM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the 10th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, Asia’s leading digital technology and telecommunications forum, at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. The event brings together policymakers, global technology leaders, telecom operators, innovators, startups, investors, academia and international stakeholders to shape the future of digital connectivity and emerging technologies.
The event is being organised jointly by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) under the overarching theme “Scale Without Boundaries”, reflecting India’s ambition to take digital innovation, connectivity and technology-led growth beyond traditional boundaries.
Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the transformative role of technology and the importance of innovation, connectivity and digital solutions in driving inclusive and sustainable development.
The Prime Minister also said “I would like to thank and welcome all the representatives of telecom operators, industrial leaders, experts, academia or startups all across the world to India. India Mobile Congress is the testament of India’s evolving telecom sector and digital connectivity. In 2022, we launched 5G from this platform. In 2023, I explained how India transformed from 5G rollout to 5G reachout and today, we are witnessing how 5G has reached every district of our country. Today, India has 5,50,000 5G Base Stations and mobile internet speed from 2022, has increased by 10 times. The revolution that has taken place in the telecom sector has directly benefited the citizens of India. Today, hundreds of government services are available through mobile phones. Government assistance is now reaching beneficiaries directly through their bank accounts. Through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), nearly ₹50 lakh crore has been transferred directly to beneficiaries and credited to their bank accounts. This is not a small figure. It has also helped prevent nearly ₹5 lakh crore from reaching the wrong hands.”
The Prime Minister emphasized “Over the years, India has transformed from being a consumer to a creator. Now, the country is moving towards a stage where product design will also take place in India. The technology and intellectual property (IP) behind these products will also be Indian. All necessary incentives are being provided, and all essential reforms are being implemented to achieve this. In short, the ‘Reform Express’ is speeding ahead in the telecom sector as well.”
India Mobile Congress has an important role in transforming Indian telecom sector
Addressing the gathering at 10th edition of India Mobile Congress, Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia highlighted India’s rapidly expanding telecom ecosystem and the growing capabilities of Indian companies, startups and innovators in developing globally competitive technology solutions.
Shri Scindia said, “The decade-long journey of the India Mobile Congress serves as the table of contents for India’s digital transformation story. When IMC was launched in 2017 with the theme ‘Connecting the Next Billion,’ the nation faced an immense challenge. Today, we have built a thriving ecosystem with over 1.35 billion telecom subscribers and more than 1.09 billion broadband connections. 10 years ago, 0.26 GB was the average Indian’s monthly data consumption. Today, it is over 36 GB, with data costs down 97%. Every drop in cost, every jump in usage has expanded the canvas on which an Indian can connect, create and innovate. Even during the unprecedented disruption of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, telecom networks kept the country moving, serving as classrooms for our children, clinics for our patients, and marketplaces for our businesses. Since the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched 5G at IMC in October 2022, India’s rollout has set a global benchmark for scale, reaching 550 million users across 99.9% of our districts. Our aim now is clear: to connect 1 billion 5G users by 2030 and lead the next era of global digital innovation.”
Scindia further emphasized “IMC 2026 will witness the digital capabilities of our nations, The demonstrations you will see shortly showcase the depth and strength of India’s deep-tech ecosystem- from satellite connectivity to life-saving cell broadcast, AI-native pre-6G networks, sovereign cloud, terahertz communications and integrated sensing and communication.”
Highlighting the journey of last 12 years,Scindia said “One GB of data would cost Rs. 268 in 2014. Today, twelve years later, one GB of data costs only eight rupees.”
India Mobile Congress 2026: Scaling India’s Digital Transformation
The 10th edition of IMC marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards becoming a global hub for telecommunications, digital innovation and technology development.
With the theme “Scale Without Boundaries,” IMC 2026 focuses on taking innovations from laboratories and pilot projects to widespread deployment and real-world applications. The theme reflects India’s vision of building a digitally empowered, secure and growth-oriented ecosystem where technology can reach every sector, region and community.
The four key pillars of IMC 2026
Srishti – Building the Future: Promoting innovation, emerging technologies and next-generation digital infrastructure.
Samvardhan – Fueling Growth: Accelerating investment, entrepreneurship, manufacturing and industry-led growth.
Sashakt – Expanding Opportunities: Leveraging digital technologies to create opportunities for citizens, enterprises and communities.
Suraksha – Strengthening Trust: Building secure, resilient and trusted digital networks and technology ecosystems.
The event is witnessing participation from over 100 countries, further strengthening India’s position as an important global platform for dialogue, collaboration and innovation in telecommunications and digital technologies.
The Union Ministers Scindia and Dr. Pemmasani also visited the exhibition area and witnessed technology demonstrations showcasing India’s growing capabilities across telecommunications, artificial intelligence, next-generation networks and emerging technology domains.
During his visit, the Union Minister visited technology stalls of leading companies and reviewed demonstrations of emerging telecom technologies and products. The Union Minister also interacted with participating innovators and industry representatives, encouraging continued collaboration between government, industry, startups and research institutions to accelerate the development and deployment of indigenous technologies.
DoT Showcases India’s Indigenous Telecom Capabilities
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is showcasing its vision of inclusive and technology-enabled development through its pavilion at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, centred on the theme of “Samridh Gram”, an award winning initiative of DoT. Inaugurated by the Union Minister Shri Scindia, the pavilion highlights how telecom and digital technologies can empower rural communities and drive inclusive growth. It features glimpses of key citizen-centric and technology initiatives of DoT, including Sanchar Saathi, the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) for strengthening digital financial safety, and initiatives of the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and WMO, showcasing India’s capabilities in secure, innovative and future-ready telecommunications. The pavilion brings together these initiatives to demonstrate the transformative role of telecom connectivity in creating a digitally empowered, secure and prosperous India.
The DoT pavilion also provides visitors and international delegates an opportunity to understand India’s policy initiatives, technology development programmes and institutional efforts aimed at building a resilient and future-ready telecom ecosystem.
New Telecom Products and Technologies Unveiled
The IMC 2026 platform also witnessed the launch and showcasing of new telecom products and technology solutions, highlighting the growing capabilities of India’s telecom industry.
The launches demonstrate the increasing maturity of India’s indigenous technology ecosystem and the potential of Indian companies and innovators to develop solutions for both domestic and international markets.
The Government’s continued emphasis on research, innovation, product development, manufacturing and global partnerships is aimed at strengthening India’s position in the global telecommunications value chain.
Focus on Next-Generation Technologies
IMC 2026 provides a major platform for discussions and demonstrations around emerging technologies that are expected to shape the next phase of India’s digital transformation. IMC 2026 is also expanding the technology conversation beyond conventional telecommunications, with dedicated focus on emerging application areas such as Smart Mobility, Stadium Experiences, Industrial Robotics and Transport Technology.
Strengthening Global Collaboration and Investment
IMC 2026 is also serving as a platform for international collaboration, strategic partnerships and investment opportunities in India’s rapidly expanding digital technology ecosystem. The participation of global technology companies, policymakers, investors, startups and research institutions is expected to facilitate knowledge exchange, technology partnerships and new avenues for investment and innovation.
The Government’s vision is to build an ecosystem where industry, academia, startups, investors and policymakers work together to accelerate technology development and ensure that innovations can be deployed at scale.
The event is expected to witness over 1.5 lakh attendees, 500+ exhibitors and partners, 600+ startups, 900+ thought leaders, more than 2,000 technology use cases, 120+ sessions and around 700 investor meetings, according to the Department of Telecommunications’ pre-event projections.
Towards a Secure, Inclusive and Globally Competitive Digital Future
The 10th edition of India Mobile Congress reinforces India’s commitment to building a secure, inclusive, innovative and globally competitive digital ecosystem. Under the vision of “Scale Without Boundaries,” IMC 2026 seeks to move technology from experimentation to meaningful deployment, creating solutions that can address challenges across sectors and contribute to economic growth, social development and improved quality of life.
The event further strengthens India’s role in shaping the global conversation around next-generation connectivity, digital innovation and emerging technologies, while advancing the country’s vision of becoming a leading technology developer, manufacturer and exporter. With its focus on innovation, investment, inclusion and trust, IMC 2026 represents another significant step towards building a technology-enabled India and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
