India Has Emerged as a 5G Powerhouse, says PM Modi at WTSA and IMC 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 8th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024 and the World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) 2024 at Bharat Mandapam today, marking India's first time hosting the WTSA. The events, which brought together global standards and service innovations under one platform, saw over 3,000 industry leaders, policymakers, and tech experts from more than 190 countries in attendance.

In his address, PM Modi highlighted India's rapid ascent in the global telecom landscape, announcing that the country has become the world's second-largest 5G market. "India has democratised digital technology," Modi declared, with 1.2 billion mobile phone users and 950 million internet users. He further emphasised that over 40% of the world's digital transactions occur in India.

The Prime Minister shared some internet usage statistics, noting that Indians now consume an average of 30 GB of data per capita monthly, benefiting from what he claimed to be the world's cheapest internet rates. 

"The cost of internet data in India is now as low as 12 cents per GB compared to many countries in the world where one GB of data is 10 to 20 times more expensive," he said.

Modi attributed this massive data consumption to widespread smartphone adoption, pointing out that India's mobile manufacturing units have grown from just two in 2014 to over 200 today.

Modi also revealed that India is already working on 6G technology and underscored the transformative power of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), stating that it has "created opportunities for all."

The four-day IMC 2024, being held at Pragati Maidan, features prominent industry players such as Xiaomi, Qualcomm, Reliance Jio, and Ericsson. The event's key focus is 5G advancements, including practical AI applications and next-generation technology demonstrations.

Xiaomi and Snapdragon are slated to announce a new partnership to integrate Snapdragon's latest chips into Xiaomi devices, potentially revolutionising the budget smartphone market. This device could be powered by the recently unveiled Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 SoC.

PM Modi has called for establishing a global framework for digital technology and urged international institutions to recognise its significance for global governance, calling for standards that are "inclusive, secure, and adaptable to future challenges."

"In an interconnected world, security cannot be an afterthought," Modi stated, referencing India's Data Protection Act and National Cyber Security Strategy as examples of the country's commitment to building a safe digital environment.

Lt. Gen. Dr. S.P. Kochhar, Director General, COAI said, "With the IMC 2024 and WTSA 2024 inauguration today, the deliberations for the next few days will play an important role in India's growing global leadership in the industry."

Ramakrishna P., CEO, India Mobile Congress said, "This time IMC is bigger and better with the global participation nearly doubling from last year. Over 120 countries are expected to participate this time, solidifying IMC’s position as Asia's largest technology expo and a major force in global digital transformation story. IMC 2024 happening concurrently with ITU-WTSA, also presents a golden opportunity for India to shape thought leadership and drive the future of technology on a global scale.”