“This is the best time to invest, innovate, and make in India,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating the 9th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi on October 8. He urged global companies to partner with India in strengthening supply chains across telecom, electronics, and semiconductors.
Modi announced the launch of the Made-in-India 4G stack, which places India among only five countries with this technological capability. He said the indigenous 4G and 5G stack will ensure seamless, high-speed connectivity and reliable internet while reducing dependence on imported systems. On the day of the launch, nearly one lakh mobile towers were activated simultaneously, extending network coverage to over two crore people, including those in previously unconnected areas.
He said India’s journey from the “2G struggles” of the past to near-universal 5G coverage highlights the success of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Since 2014, electronics production has grown sixfold, mobile manufacturing 28 times, and exports 127 times, contributing significantly to job creation. Modi said digital connectivity is no longer a privilege or luxury but an integral part of everyday life, noting that the cost of 1GB of data in India is now lower than a cup of tea.
The Prime Minister said India’s technological progress is being driven by startups and innovators supported by government initiatives such as the Telecom Technology Development Fund and the Digital Communications Innovations Square. The government is also financing test beds for 5G, 6G, optical fibre, and quantum communication technologies to promote collaboration between startups, research institutions, and industry players.
He said the new Telecommunications Act has replaced outdated laws like the Indian Telegraph Act and the Indian Wireless Telegraph Act. According to him, the new law functions more as a facilitator than a regulator, making permissions and Right-of-Way approvals faster. He added that the government has tightened laws against cyber fraud and improved grievance redressal systems.
“India has the world’s second-largest telecom market and the second-largest 5G market,” Modi said, adding that the country’s scale, skilled workforce, and innovation capacity make it a strong player in the global digital ecosystem. He said India will be powered by the speed of startups and the scale of established players working together, adding that the country is well placed to provide solutions to global technology challenges.
Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and minister of state Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani were also present at the inauguration.