Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the 9th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, Asia’s largest telecom, media, and technology event, at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi. The event, being held from October 8 to 11 under the theme ‘Innovate to Transform’, highlights India’s commitment to leveraging innovation for digital transformation and societal progress.
Addressing the event, PM Modi said numerous startups are showcasing innovations in areas such as financial fraud prevention, quantum communication, 6G, optical communication, and semiconductors. “These presentations demonstrate India’s technological capabilities,” he said, wishing success for the event and its initiatives.
Tracing IMC’s evolution from a mobile and telecom event to Asia’s largest digital technology forum, the PM said the growth story has been powered by India’s tech-savvy youth and national talent. He cited government initiatives such as the Telecom Technology Development Fund and Digital Communications Innovations Square, which provide funding and test beds for cutting-edge technologies including 5G, 6G, optical communications, and tera-hertz technologies.
“With government support, Indian industry, startups, and academia are collaborating across sectors, developing and scaling indigenous technologies, creating intellectual property through R&D, and contributing to global standards,” PM Modi said. “India Mobile Congress and India’s success in the telecom sector reflect the strength of the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.”
Recalling the early skepticism around the ‘Make in India’ initiative, PM Modi stressed how the country has proved its critics wrong. “The nation that once struggled with 2G now has 5G coverage in nearly every district. Electronics production has increased sixfold since 2014, mobile phone manufacturing has grown twenty-eight times, and exports have surged 127 times. Over the past decade, the mobile phone sector has generated millions of direct jobs, with 45 Indian firms in a single smartphone company’s supply chain creating around 3.5 lakh jobs,” he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s recent launch of the Made-in-India 4G stack, calling it a major indigenous achievement. “India has now joined the list of just five countries globally with this capability,” he said, describing it as a step toward digital self-reliance and technological independence. On the day of the 4G stack launch, nearly one lakh 4G towers were activated simultaneously, providing connectivity to over two crore people, including those in remote areas previously lagging in digital access. PM Modi said that the indigenous 4G stack is export-ready and will contribute to India’s ‘6G Vision 2030.’
Emphasising the role of legal and policy frameworks, the PM cited the new Telecommunications Act, which replaces outdated laws, accelerates approvals, eases Right-of-Way permissions, and facilitates fibre and tower expansion .He also underlined the government’s focus on cybersecurity, stricter laws against cyber fraud, enhanced accountability, and improved grievance redressal mechanisms.
Underlining India’s growing influence in the global technology landscape, the Prime Minister highlighted the country’s robust telecom and 5G markets. “We have the world’s second-largest telecom market and the second-largest 5G market. Alongside market strength, India possesses skilled manpower, high mobility, and a progressive mindset. Our youth population is the largest in the world, and we are training them at massive scale”, the Prime Minister said. He also noted that the cost of one GB of wireless data in India is now lower than the price of a cup of tea, making digital connectivity an integral part of daily life.
PM Modi added, “This is the best time to invest, innovate, and make in India! From manufacturing to semiconductors, mobiles to electronics, and startups across sectors, India is brimming with possibilities”. He said that the acceleration of reforms places greater responsibility on industry and innovators, with startups and young innovators creating new pathways through speed and risk-taking.
Reiterating the role of established players, the Prime Minister said, “India will be empowered by the speed of startups and the scale of established players working together.” He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts across startups, academia, research institutions, and policymakers to address global supply chain challenges, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing, telecom network equipment, and electronics production.
Additionally, PM Modi highlighted India’s potential to become a global data hub, citing initiatives to advance data centers and cloud infrastructure to meet the growing global demand for data storage, security, and sovereignty.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani were among other dignitaries present at the event.