Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates India Mobile Congress 2023, Unveils 100 5G Labs, and Reaffirms India’s Pinnacle Position in Smartphone Production, Predicting Global Adoption of ‘Made in India’ Smartphones
At the inauguration of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed pride in the imminent global adoption of ‘Made-in-India’ smartphones. He emphasized India’s remarkable progress from being an importer of smartphones just a few years ago to becoming a major local manufacturer, producing a majority of phones, including premium models like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the iPhone 15 series, while also exporting extensively to global markets. India has now secured its position as the second-largest mobile manufacturer worldwide. Additionally, Prime Minister Modi reiterated Google’s plan to manufacture the Pixel 8 series in India by 2024.
Modi stressed the significance of robust semiconductor manufacturing in India, envisioning it as a pathway to global manufacturing leadership. He also reiterated India’s Rs 80,000 crore PLI (Production-Linked Incentive) scheme, designed to encourage OEMs to participate in the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
In line with the overarching theme of India Mobile Congress, which centers on connectivity, the Prime Minister inaugurated 100 5G labs within colleges and educational institutions across the country. He noted that the world has been impressed by the rapid deployment of 5G in India, with over 400,000 base stations providing coverage to 80% of the population and serving 97% of subscribers within just one year of the 5G launch. Modi asserted India’s intention to take the lead in the global rollout of 6G.
Modi highlighted that since the commencement of the 5G rollout in 2022, the average broadband speed has tripled. He also stated that India’s global internet speed ranking has significantly improved, moving down from 118th place to the 40s.
Addressing the critical topic of cybersecurity, Prime Minister Modi underlined that substantial discussions on network infrastructure security and cybersecurity have taken place during G20 meetings. He emphasized the role of self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in enhancing cybersecurity and safeguarding network infrastructure. Additionally, he stressed the importance of engaging in dialogues to develop strategies for protecting networks from cyber threats.
Prime Minister Modi discussed India’s potential for thought leadership, acknowledging that the country may have missed opportunities for technological innovation in the past. However, he expressed that the time has come for India to step into the role of a thought leader. India has already demonstrated thought leadership in areas such as digital payments through UPI and initiatives like CoWIN. With its youthful population and vibrant democracy, India possesses the attributes necessary to establish itself as a thought leader in the technological and innovation landscape.
