New Delhi, Oct 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India’s telecom sector has evolved far beyond networks, spectrum and internet speeds, with mobile connectivity emerging as an important enabler of governance and access to public services.
Addressing the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 in the national capital, Modi said mobile phones had undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, moving from conventional communication devices to tools that can facilitate the delivery of governance and essential services.
“Mobile phone has become a tool of good governance,” the Prime Minister said.
Recalling the evolution of the India Mobile Congress, Modi said the event had become an important platform for showcasing India’s progress and ambitions in the telecom and digital technology sectors.
He recalled that the country’s 5G rollout was launched from the IMC platform in 2022 and said the focus had subsequently shifted from merely expanding 5G networks to ensuring wider access to the technology.
“In 2022, it was from this very platform that we launched 5G in the country. Then, in 2023, I spoke about how India was moving from 5G rollout towards 5G reach-out,” Modi said.
He said 5G connectivity had now reached every district of the country, with more than 5.5 lakh base stations operating 5G networks across India. According to the Prime Minister, mobile internet speeds have also increased substantially, reaching levels around 10 times higher than those recorded in 2022.
Modi said the expansion of digital connectivity was particularly significant because India had faced a digital divide a decade ago, when emerging technologies risked becoming accessible mainly to sections of society with greater resources.
“A decade back, the digital divide was a challenge. New technology was becoming a privilege,” he said.
The government sought to address this challenge through the Digital India programme, placing mobile connectivity at the centre of efforts to expand digital access and enable citizens to use public and government services more easily.
Modi said the theme of this year’s IMC, “Scale Without Boundaries,” reflected India’s own experience in expanding telecom and digital infrastructure across the country.
He stressed that the progress of the telecom sector should not be measured only through network speeds, spectrum availability or the number of base stations. Its wider impact on governance and citizens’ access to essential services was equally important.
“For Indians, telecom means much more,” the Prime Minister said.
He cited the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic to underline the importance of India’s digital ecosystem. During the pandemic, digital connectivity enabled offices, banks, educational institutions and other services to continue functioning even when normal activities were disrupted in several parts of the world.
According to Modi, the experience demonstrated how digital infrastructure had become an essential part of everyday life and economic activity rather than merely a communication facility.
The Prime Minister also welcomed telecom operators, technology companies, industry leaders, experts and startup representatives from India and abroad attending the Congress. He said the event provided an opportunity to exchange ideas, showcase innovations and discuss the future direction of the digital economy.
The 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress is being held in New Delhi from October 7 to 10. The event is organised by the Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
The Prime Minister’s remarks placed the expansion of telecom infrastructure within the broader context of India’s digital transformation, highlighting how mobile connectivity has increasingly become intertwined with public services, economic activity and citizens’ interaction with government.
