IMC 2026: PM Modi Says Mobile Phones Now a Tool of Good Governance

"In 2022, it was from this very platform that we launched 5G in the country. Then, in 2023, I spoke about how India was moving from 5G rollout towards 5G reach-out. And today, we are all seeing that 5G connectivity has reached every district of the country. Today, there are more than 5.5 lakh base stations in India, from where 5G networks are operating. And mobile internet speed is 10 times higher compared to 2022," he said.

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IMC 2026: PM Modi Says Mobile Phones Now a Tool of Good Governance

From Digital Divide to Digital Access

"A decade back, the digital divide was a challenge. New technology was becoming a privilege," he said, adding that the Digital India programme placed the mobile phone at the centre of expanding access to services. He cited the Covid-19 pandemic, when offices, banks and schools in India kept functioning digitally while many parts of the world came to a standstill.

Why It Matters: A Busy Week for Indian Telecom

The speech comes in a week packed with telecom developments that show both progress and gaps:

The last point matters. "Every district" having 5G does not mean every village is connected. In J&K, 248 of 6,474 villages still had no mobile coverage as of early 2026. For border and mountain communities, the next phase of the digital story is about reaching the last few percent.

About IMC 2026

The 10th India Mobile Congress, themed "Scale Without Boundaries," runs from October 7 to 10 in New Delhi. It is organised by the Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India, and brings together telecom operators, industry leaders, experts and startups.

The Bottom Line

India's telecom story has moved from launching 5G to using mobile phones as a gateway to governance. The next challenge is making sure that "every district" eventually means every village, too.

With inputs from IANS.