Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the 10th edition of the Indian Mobile Congress 2026 and highlighted the rapid growth of digital connectivity and India’s telecom sector.
Recalling the evolution of the event, Modi said 5G was rolled out at the Indian Mobile Congress in 2022 and expanded further in 2023. The network has now grown to more than 5.5 lakh base stations. He also recalled discussions on global telecom standards in 2024 and the focus on ‘Make in India’ last year.
Modi said mobile connectivity played a crucial role during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, enabling children to continue their education, helping people stay connected and allowing remote work to function.
He said digital networks have also helped the government deliver welfare benefits directly to citizens. Citing the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme, Modi said farmers receive financial assistance every four months and are notified on their mobile phones when payments are credited.
The prime minister said smartphones have evolved beyond devices used for calls and messages, helping people access government and other services more quickly. He added that the government is working to expand mobile towers in remote areas and fibre networks to make mobile data more affordable and extend connected services across the country.
Modi also highlighted India's growing gaming and content-creation sectors, saying more than 500 million people are now part of the gaming ecosystem, with significant participation from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
He said young Indians were increasingly using smartphones not only for gaming but also to create content and build businesses. Improved connectivity has also contributed to the growth of regional content on OTT platforms, allowing audiences to access programmes and films in their own languages.
According to Modi, India's content-creation industry has grown to around Rs 1,000 crore.
The prime minister also stressed the need for greater awareness about cybercrime, deepfakes and other digital threats. He said users are becoming increasingly cautious about fake content, fraudulent messages and other online risks as digital awareness grows.