India Mobile Congress 2025 Showcases Aatmanirbhar Bharat’s Digital Power: PM Modi
PM Modi along with Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and MoS Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani during the inaugural ceremony of India Mobile Congress 2025 at Yashobhoomi, in Delhi on Wednesday.
New Delhi, October 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the 9th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, Asia’s largest telecom, media, and technology forum, at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi, asserting that India’s telecom revolution stands as a testament to the strength of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
“The battlefield of technology has changed — India now leads with confidence, not dependence,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the country that once struggled with 2G now has 5G coverage in nearly every district. He hailed India’s emergence as the world’s second-largest telecom and 5G market, backed by strong manpower, mobility, and a progressive mindset.
India Joins Global Elite with Indigenous 4G Stack
Calling it a landmark achievement, Modi announced that India has developed its Made-in-India 4G stack, joining the ranks of just five nations worldwide with this technological capability. “This is a major indigenous achievement that symbolizes India’s march toward digital self-reliance,” he said.
On the day of the 4G stack’s launch, nearly one lakh towers were activated simultaneously, connecting over two crore people, many in remote regions. The stack, he said, is export-ready and will be instrumental in realizing India’s 6G Vision 2030.
Digital Connectivity: From Privilege to Necessity
“Digital connectivity in India is no longer a privilege or luxury — it is an integral part of every Indian’s life,” the Prime Minister said, pointing out that India now offers the world’s lowest data costs, with one GB of wireless data priced below a cup of tea.
He credited reforms such as the Telecommunications Act 2023, which replaced colonial-era laws, for transforming India’s telecom landscape into a facilitative and investment-friendly regime. The new framework, he said, has simplified approvals, accelerated fibre and tower installations, and improved ease of doing business.
From Importer to Innovator
Recalling how the ‘Make in India’ initiative was once met with skepticism, Modi said India has since defied doubts through sheer innovation and determination. Electronics production, he noted, has grown sixfold since 2014, mobile manufacturing has increased twenty-eight times, and exports have risen by 127 times.
Citing the example of a leading global smartphone manufacturer, he said 45 Indian companies now form part of its supply chain, creating 3.5 lakh jobs. “This is not just economic expansion — it’s the rise of confidence and capability,” he added.
India’s Moment to Lead the World
The Prime Minister said that global disruptions in supply chains for semiconductors, telecom, and electronics present India with an opportunity to emerge as a reliable alternative. “Wherever there are global bottlenecks, India can provide solutions,” he said, adding that work on ten semiconductor fabrication units is already underway.
He urged young innovators and startups to seize this opportunity: “This is the best time to invest, innovate, and make in India.”
Modi praised IMC 2025 for featuring over 500 startups, noting that collaboration between startups and established players will propel India toward leadership in the digital and telecom economy.
About IMC 2025
Jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), IMC 2025 is themed “Innovate to Transform.” The event, running from October 8–11, will feature participation from 150 countries, 400 companies, and 7,000 global delegates, showcasing 1,600 use-cases across 5G/6G, AI, quantum computing, and green technologies.
