5G a gift from the telecom industry to 130 crore Indians, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday declared Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) 2022 open and launched 5G telephony services that promise to offer ultra-high speed internet on mobile phones.

“Historic day for 21st century India. 5G technology will revolutionize the telecom sector. Launch of 5G is a gift from the telecom industry to 130 crore Indians. It is a step towards the new era in the country, and is the beginning of infinite opportunities.” he said.

PM Modi said the country has one of the most affordable data tariffs in the world from Rs 300 per 1 GB data, India now has 1 GB data for Rs 10.


India was dependent on foreign countries for 2G, 3G, 4G but with 5G, the country is creating history. From 2 mobile manufacturing units in India in 2014, the country now has over 200 mobile factories.

From exporting zero mobile phones in 2014, to now, when we export phones worth thousands of crores, these efforts have had an impact on the cost of the device. Now we have started getting more features at a lower cost.


New India will not remain a mere consumer of technology but will play an active role in the development and implementation of that technology. We will lead the technological advancements in the world, Modi claimed.

According to Modi the Digital India's success is based on 4 pillars incl cost of device, digital connectivity, data costs and digital first approach. And he promised that the government is working on strengthening all of them.

“I've seen even the poor of the country always come forward to adopt new technologies. Technology has become democratic in its truest sense.”

On average, a person in India consumes 14GB per month. This would have cost about Rs 4200 per month but costs Rs 125-150. It's the efforts of the government that led to this success.

Digital India has given every citizen a space. Even the smallest street vendor is using UPI. The government reached the citizens without any middlemen, benefits reached beneficiaries directly.

With developments in technology and telecom, India will lead the Industry 4.0 revolution. This is not the decade of India, but the century of India.

"People laughed at the idea of becoming 'Aatmanirbhar' but it has been done. It's taking electronic costs down. In 2014, there were only 2 mobile manufacturing facilities, today that number has increased to over 200 manufacturing facilities."