PM Modi inaugurates ITU Telecom Standard Conference, India Mobile Congress: LIVE Updates

PM Modi said, "There are over 200 mobile manufacturing units in India, making it a robust hub for mobile production. India has now emerged as a significant exporter of mobile devices. The country is strategically focusing on the development of complete Made in India smartphones, with an emphasis on investing in semiconductor manufacturing to further bolster its position in the global mobile technology market".

PM Modi said, "India is currently focusing on enhancing its quality and standards, and the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) is expected to provide a significant boost to India's efforts in this area. This event has successfully brought together diverse stakeholders, fostering consensus and connectivity in one central location. This is especially crucial in today's world, which is often fraught with conflict and challenges".

Prime Minister Modi warmly welcomed all the delegates and guests to the India Mobile Congress. He expressed his appreciation to the International Telecommunication Union for choosing India as the host for the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly. His remarks highlighted the significance of India's role in global telecommunications and the country's commitment to advancing telecommunication standards.

Prime Minister Modi unveiled a digital plaque to ceremonially inaugurate the India Mobile Congress 2024, signaling the official commencement of the event.

Prime Minister Modi revealed a digital plaque to mark the commencement of the event. The WTSA-24 is organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) focusing on information and communication technologies.

Kumar Mangalam Birla stated that as networks have expanded, there is a need to protect the public from phishing attempts, fraudulent calls, and spam messages. He mentioned that Vodafone Idea is making significant strides in combating this issue in collaboration with the government and regulatory bodies.

During his address to the audience, Akash Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm, put forward two important suggestions. Firstly, he emphasised the urgent need for India to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a comprehensive strategy, aligning with the self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) initiatives.

Secondly, he called for the expedited update of the 2020 draft of the data centre policy, stressing the importance of ensuring that Indian data remains within the borders of the country. Furthermore, he advocated for providing necessary incentives, including those related to power consumption, to Indian companies looking to establish AI and Machine Learning (ML) data centres.

Scindia mentioned that mobile connections in India have increased from 904 million to 1.16 billion today. Broadband connectivity in India has reached 924 million users. The OFC fibre in India has expanded from 11 million route kilometres to 41 million route kilometres. Additionally, he stated that these growth numbers are accompanied by a digital payment system, the UPI interface, and 4G stack.

He further mentioned that by the middle of next year, 4G would be rolled out across the length and breadth of India and emphasized that India has had the fastest 5G rollout, with 98 per cent of districts and 90 per cent of villages covered in just 21 months.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia highlighted the transformative impact of mobile phones in India, emphasizing that when a family acquires a mobile phone, they gain access to a wide range of essential services. These include connectivity to banking services, access to government welfare schemes, crucial information, and the ability to connect with the global community.

Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed all the delegates and gates to International Telecommunication Union - World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 and India Mobile Congress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meticulously examines the diverse range of exhibits showcased at the International Telecommunication Union - World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024, which is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The Union Communications Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, accompanies the Prime Minister during his visit to the exhibition, underscoring the government's commitment to the development and standardisation of telecommunications on a global scale.

The India Mobile Congress 2024 is set to be an exciting event with a focus on the future of connectivity and digital innovation. One of the main highlights of the event will be the discussion and key announcements surrounding the advancement of 6G technology, as well as the continued development of 5G. India's ambition to emerge as a global leader in digital innovation will be a central theme throughout the event.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) are expected to take center stage at IMC 24. With over 50 Indian and global industry experts and thought leaders participating as speakers, the event promises to provide valuable insights into how AI has revolutionized various industries and continues to shape the future of digital solutions.

Moreover, IMC 24 is anticipated to witness several highly-anticipated product launches. Among these, Xiaomi is scheduled to unveil a new device featuring the cutting-edge Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 processor on October 16th. This launch is sure to generate significant interest and excitement within the tech community.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024 in New Delhi at 11:00 AM. Additionally, the Prime Minister will also be inaugurating the 8th edition of the India Mobile Congress 2024. This marks a significant milestone as India and the Asia-Pacific region host the ITU-WTSA for the first time, showcasing the growing importance of the telecommunications industry in the region.