Modi Highlights India’s Cheaper Data Costs; Ambani Urges Incentives for AI Data Centers to Connect the World Effectively

On October 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the eighth edition of the 2024 India Mobile Congress at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The event is expected to present updates on 6G development in India. This program will be held until October 18.

With the theme “The Future is Now,” the event will showcase announcements related to cloud and edge computing, IoT, semiconductors, cybersecurity, green tech, satcom, and electronics, along with use cases for 5G.

More than 120 countries from around the world are participating in this tech event, and approximately 900 startups are also taking part. PM Modi was shown various tech innovations during the IMC 2024 exhibition, accompanied by Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia.

PM Modi Inaugurates WTSA 2024

PM Modi also inaugurated the World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024, which is being hosted for the first time in India and the Asia-Pacific region by the International Telecommunication Union. 

Over 3,000 industry leaders, policymakers, and technical experts from more than 190 countries are participating in the assembly.

PM Modi Addresses Mobile Users and Highlights Key Points

In his speech, PM Modi emphasized that India has 1.2 billion mobile users and outlined six key points:

• Optical Fiber Expansion: In the last decade, India has laid down eight times more optical fiber than the distance between the Moon and Earth. Two years ago, we launched 5G, and today every district is connected to 5G. We are now working rapidly on 6G technology.
• Reduced Internet Costs: Due to reforms in the telecom sector, the price of internet data has decreased. Currently, mobile data costs just 12 cents per GB in India, while in other countries, 1 GB of data can be ten times more expensive. Today, Indians use an average of 30 GB of data per month.
• Local Manufacturing of Phones: PM Modi stated that phones cannot be affordable until we manufacture them in India. In 2014, there were only two mobile manufacturing units; now, there are over 200. Earlier, we imported smartphones; now, we produce six times more phones in India.
• Digital Commerce Revolution: Citing examples like Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and UPI, PM Modi mentioned that ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) will revolutionize the digital commerce sector. He noted how digital platforms made life easier during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Global Digital Presence: Today, India is one of the most prominent countries in the world in terms of telecom and related technologies. There are 1.2 billion mobile phone users and 950 million internet users in India. Over 40% of real-time digital transactions globally occur in India.
• Connecting the World: From the ancient Silk Route to today’s technology route, India has one mission: to connect the world and open new pathways. The partnership between WTSA and IMC sends an inspiring and remarkable message. When local and global connections are made, the entire world benefits. This is our goal.

Scindia Highlights the Power of Telecom with DBT Transfers

At the event, Jyotiraditya Scindia remarked that “some of the best examples of the power of telecom are the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes.” He noted that these schemes facilitate direct cash transfers of over ₹1 crore into people’s bank accounts daily.

Scindia also mentioned that mobile connections in India have surged from 904 million to 1.16 billion. There are currently 924 million users of broadband connectivity in the country. The optical fiber cable (OFC) network in India has expanded from 11 million route kilometers to 41 million route kilometers.

He added that by mid-next year, the government aims to launch 4G services across the entire country. India has also achieved the fastest rollout of 5G, covering 98% of districts and 90% of villages within just 21 months.

Mukesh Ambani Calls for Incentives for Data Centers

Mukesh Ambani stated that AI will transform every aspect of our lives. To realize our vision of a developed India by 2047, AI is essential, and therefore, India should adopt AI immediately.

He urged the government to swiftly update the draft of the Data Center Policy from 2020, emphasizing that Indian data should reside in data centers within the country. Additionally, he advocated for all necessary incentives, including electricity consumption, to be provided to Indian companies looking to establish AI and machine learning (ML) data centers.

Bharti Mittal: Entire Country to be Connected to 5G Network in 18 Months

Bharti Airtel Chairman Bharti Mittal stated that PM Modi has urged the telecommunications sector and operators to roll out 5G as quickly as possible. He expressed his delight in announcing that India has launched the fastest 5G network, not only in urban areas but also in all villages and rural regions.

He noted that the network is expanding daily and monthly. Within the next 12 to 18 months, every part of the country will be connected with a robust 5G network.

Kumar Mangalam Birla: Need to Protect People from Spam Messages

Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, emphasized the need to safeguard people from phishing attempts, fraudulent calls, and spam messages as the network expands.

He noted that with the support of the government and regulatory bodies, Vodafone Idea has made significant progress in addressing these threats.