India showcased its technological prowess at the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) and the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024. These two landmark gatherings in New Delhi have emphasized India’s rising role in shaping global telecommunication policies and technological advancements. On day one, key addresses were made by the Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, who highlighted the nation’s achievements in the past 10 years and vision for the future.
Scindia underscored the transformative journey of India’s telecom sector over the last decade, driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make India a fully digitalized nation. He emphasized four key pillars—inclusivity, penetration, affordability, and accessibility—which have guided the sector’s growth since 2014.
“India’s mobile phone users have surged from 904 million to 1.16 billion, while internet penetration has expanded from 250 million to 950 million. Broadband connectivity, with speeds exceeding 2 GB, has soared from 60 million to 920 million,” Scindia stated, highlighting the government’s efforts to ensure access to communication technology in every corner of the country.
He further noted the impressive growth of optical fibre cable (OFC) connectivity, which has expanded from 11 lakh kilometres to 41 lakh kilometres since 2014. The BharatNET program, now the world’s largest rural broadband initiative, has invested over $17 billion to connect 240,000 gram panchayats across India.
Scindia proudly spoke about India’s rapid 5G rollout, labelling it the fastest in the world, with 4.5 lakh base transceiver stations installed in just 21 months, covering 98 districts and 80% of the population. He also highlighted the Bharat 6G Vision, which aims to shape global standards for 6G connectivity by 2030, and India’s proactive role in influencing these standards at the ITU.
“Our nation is now providing input for setting 6G protocols, ensuring connectivity in rural areas,” Scindia said, recalling India’s contributions at the ITU meeting in Geneva in 2023. He also noted that India has successfully established 81 5G labs, with plans to create 100, reflecting India’s commitment to advancing next-generation technologies.
Scindia expressed optimism that India’s innovations including 5G test cases such as those the Department of Telecommunications will be trying to implement in 10 selected 5G intelligent villages—would gain recognition on the global stage. “We believe that India will participate in shaping international telecommunication policy,” he said, emphasizing the global scale of the WTSA, which hosted over 3,000 delegates from 160 countries.
Meanwhile, Piyush Goyal, in his address, highlighted the convergence of various technological programs, reiterating India’s role as a global leader in digitalization. Goyal emphasized that the IMC 2024 tagline, “The Future is Now,” was apt, as India was laying the foundation for a brighter future, not just for itself but for the entire world.
“India’s strength lies in its talent, skills, and large market of 1.4 billion people, which, combined with its robust startup ecosystem, positions it as the fastest-growing large economy, contributing 16-17% to global growth,” Goyal said. He pointed to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Pavilion at the IMC as a symbol of India’s growing self-reliance in telecom and technology manufacturing.
Reflecting on India’s journey through the COVID-19 pandemic, Goyal attributed the nation’s seamless transition to digital work and education to the timely launch of the Digital India mission. “Had it not been for the millions of internet users and affordable, high-quality broadband connectivity, the situation during the pandemic would have been very different,” Goyal remarked.
He honored the legacy of former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, whose birth anniversary coincided with the event. ” Dr Kalam gave India the culture of innovation decades ago, and his vision continues to inspire millions today,” Goyal said.
Looking to the future, Goyal stressed the importance of maintaining high-quality standards across India’s telecom and technology sectors. He emphasized that the country’s 5G technology, innovation, and services surpass those of many developed nations. Goyal also outlined India’s ambitions to provide secure, affordable technology solutions to other emerging economies, especially through initiatives like C-DOT’s 4G core.
“We must move from ‘Telco to Techno, using the tremendous potential to become the technology provider of the world along with the telecom provider of the world” Goyal said, urging India to rethink its business model and scale its technology innovations globally. He expressed confidence that participants in the IMC would go on to become telecom solution providers to the world, further strengthening India’s position as a trusted partner in the global telecom supply chain.
Both Scindia and Goyal’s speeches highlighted India’s remarkable strides in telecommunications and digital infrastructure. From setting global standards for 6G to leading the world in 5G rollouts, India is poised to play an increasingly prominent role in the global telecom industry, with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
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