India Mobile Congress 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi bats for global AI, privacy standards at IMC-WTSA 2024 launch

India Mobile Congress 2024 Live Updates: The eighth edition of the India Mobile Congress is being held at Delhi's Pragati Maidan for the next four days.

India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024 Live: “We need global standards for ethical AI and data privacy that respects the diversity of various countries,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the inauguration of the 2024 India Mobile Congress on Tuesday, October 15. As part of a joint ceremony, PM Modi also kicked off the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 that is being organised by the International Telecommunication Union for the first time in India as well as the Asia-Pacific.

Hailing India’s smartphone manufacturing capabilities, PM Modi said, “In 2014, there were only two mobile manufacturing units. Today, it is more than 200.” He also said that India had successfully reduced the cost of mobile data through reforms in the telecom sector. “Today, mobile data in India costs 12 cents per GB,” the prime minister said, adding that the government was working on rolling out 6G technology soon.

The eighth edition of the India Mobile Congress is being held at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan for the next four days, with the theme ‘The Future is Now’. As part of the exhibition, telecom companies will be demonstrating 5G use cases. Tech innovations pertaining to AI, cloud and edge computing, IoT, semiconductors, cybersecurity, green tech, satcom, and electronics manufacturing will also be on display.

Stay tuned for our coverage of the 2024 India Mobile Congress.

Live Updates
11:57 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
PM Modi emphasises principles of security, dignity, and equity

"Security, dignity, and equity principles should be part of our discussions. It should be our goal for any country or region or community to not be left behind in the digital age. We should make sure that our future is technically strong and ethically sound. In our future, there should be innovation as well as inclusion," PM Modi said.

11:55 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'Need global standards for ethical AI and data privacy': PM Modi.

"For the aviation sector, we have developed a global rules and regulations framework. We need a similar framework for the digital world as well. The WTSA needs to think about this and make how telecommunication safe for everyone so that in this interconnected world, security is not an afterthought. India's Data Protection Act and National Cybersecurity Strategy aims to make a safe digital ecosystem in India," PM Modi said, urging the WTSA delegates to come up with inclusive, secure, and adaptable technological standards.

"We need global standards for ethical AI and data privacy that respects the diversity of various countries," Modi said.

11:50 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'India has democraticised digital technology': PM Modi

Offering examples of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and UPI, PM Modi said that ONDC will usher in a revolution in the digital commerce sector. "We saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, how our digital platforms made lives easier," Modi said.

11:47 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'Mobile data in India costs 12 cents per gigabyte': PM Modi

"In the past ten years, the optical fibres that India has laid is eight times the distance between the moon and the earth. Two years ago, we launched 5G at the India Mobile Congress. Today, every zilla is connected through 5G. India is now a 5G market, now we are also quickly working on 6G technology," Modi said.

The reforms in the telecom sector have led to decline in the costs of internet data. Today, mobile data in India costs 12 cents per GB. In other countries, one GB of data is ten times more costly. Indians consume an average of 30 GB of data every month today," the prime minister said.

11:42 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'India is home to 200 smartphone manufacturing units': PM Modi

"Phones could not have been cheaper unless we had not manufactured them in India. In 2014, there were only two mobile manufacturing units. Today, it is more than 200. Earlier, we used to import smartphones from abroad. Now, we manufacture six times more mobile phones in India," PM Modi said.

"From chips to the finished product, we are looking to give the world a made-in-India phone. We are also investing in the semiconductor ecosystem as well," Modi added.

11:40 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'Four pillars of Digital India': PM Modi

"WTSA aims to empower the whole word through consensus. India Mobile Congress aims to empower the world through connectivity. So, consensus and connectivity have been linked at this event. In today's conflict-ridden world, these two things are very important," PM Modi said.

"In India, telecom is not just about connectivity but also about equity and opportunity. Ten years ago, when I had unveiled the vision of Digital India, I had said that we need to take a holistic approach. We had recognised four pillars of Digital India:

- lower prices of devices

- make sure every corner of the country is digitally connected

- make data accessible to everyone

- make 'digital first' our goal"

11:31 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
PM Modi steps up to the podium at IMC 2024

11:25 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
PM Modi kicks off ITU WTSA 2024, eighth IMC 2024

PM Modi unveils digital plaque to inaugurate the WTSA 2024 organised by the International Telecommunication Union, a specialised agency of the UN. He also inaugurated the annual India Mobile Congress as part of the joint ceremony.

11:17 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'Vi combating spam/scam calls': Birla

"With a focus on technology like 5G, IoT, AI, and cloud services, the Vi business ready for next programme is helping SMEs assess their digital readiness. Just last year, India achieved the remarkable feat of 10 crore tele-consultations and this is a matter of great pride for every India," Kumar Mangalam Birla said, while addressing the IMC 2024.

"As networks have grown, we have to protect the public from phishing attempts, fraudulent calls, and spam messages. In collaboration with the government and regulatory bodies, Vodafone Idea is making significant strides in combating this menace," he said.

11:12 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'Satcom services crucial for India': Mittal

"The other big part of the third term is the opening up of space industry for the private sector. That is a huge developement that India is seeing. We recognise that it is almost impossible for terrestrial services to cover every square inch of any country or our oceans or our skies."

"With the launch of low-earth orbit networks, we have the possibility of connecting 4G speeds and massive capacities in the hands of those who have been left behind. India has 95 per cent of the population covered but they live in 75 per cent of places. There are 5 per cent of people who are in remote areas where USO is trying to catch up and provide services. With the launch of satcom services in India, anybody will be able to connect to the internet however remote," Mittal said.

11:08 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'Entire country will have 5G in next 12-18 months': Mittal

"Today, every element of India's network passes through a rigorous test of trusted networks and trusted products. This is seminal development which other countries need to follow. He (Modi) asked the department of telecom and Indian operators to gear up and launch 5G at the fastest pace possible. I'm glad to report that India not only launched fastest 5g networks in the country, not just in urban areas but including all the villages and rural areas. More network rollouts are happening every day, every month. Within a matter of next 12-18 months, each part of the country will be connected through a very powerful 5G network," Mittal said.

11:03 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel, addresses IMC 2024

11:01 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'Two suggestions for PM Modi': Akash Ambani

"My first suggestion, artificial intelligence will transform every aspect of our lives and bring in an era of unimaginable abundance. With AI, India has the potential to completely transform into the new-age factory and service centre for the world. AI is absolutely critical for realising our dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Therefore, India should urgently embrace AI with a holistic strategy driven by Atmanirbhar efforts," Ambani said.

"My second suggestion, the scale and speed of multilingual data generation in India which will drive the AI revolution, will grow exponentially. We request the government to expedite the updating of the 2020 draft of the data centre policy that Indian data should remain in India's data centres. Therefore, Indian companies ready to set up AI and ML data centres should get all necessary incentives including incentives for power consumption," Ambani added.

10:56 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
Akash Ambani takes the stage next

Akash Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm and son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, is addressing the gathering at IMC 2024.

10:54 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'Fastest 5G rollout in India': Scindia

"Mobile connections in India have risen from 904 million to 1.16 billion today. Broadband connectivity in India is a staggering 924 million users. OFC fibre in India was only 11 million route kilometres, today it is 41 million route kilometres. These numbers of growth are accompanied by a digital payment system, the UPI interface, and 4G stack," Scindia said.

"By mid of next year, we would have rolled out 4G across the length and breadth of India. We've had the fastest 5G rollout in India. 98 per cent of districts and 90 per cent of villages covered in the span of only 21 months," he said.

10:49 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'DBT transfers demonstrate power of telecom': Scindia

"Some of the most remarkable examples of the power of telecom is the DBT or direct benefit transfer schemes which, in a day, transfers more than 10 million direct cash transfers on a daily basis into the bank accounts of the people," Scindia says.

"When it comes to the area of telecom, we are stead fastly bridging the gaps between the haves and have nots," he adds.

10:46 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'Highest-ever WTSA turnout': Scindia

"Last year, India took up the baton of the G20 Summit. In the same vein, we are honoured to host the illustrious WTSA assembly as it is the first time being held in India, where we will celebrate the power of technology, particularly telecommunications and the underlying global frameworks and standards."

"We amongst us 3,200 delegates from over 160 countries, the highest-ever for any WTSA assembly in its history," Scindia says.

10:43 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia at the podium

10:40 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
The Airtel booth at IMC 2024
We're live at the Indian Mobile Congress 2024!This year, Airtel proudly presents 'Future in Motion', a powerful theme that is deeply aligned to the #digitalindia vision.At the heart of our arena, lies the 'Airtel Future Loop', which symbolises the incredible possibilities… pic.twitter.com/Atyx8xE8VM— Bharti Airtel (@airtelnews) October 15, 2024
10:35 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
PM Modi being shown the tech innovations on exhibition at IMC 2024

The prime minister is also accompanied by Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia.

10:05 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'Historic day': Union Minister Scindia

In the run-up to IMC 2024, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia posted on X that both the IMC and WTSA were platforms that will "enable countries and participants to discuss and decide the future of next-generation technologies."

"In India, 5G is anticipated to inject an astounding 450 billion dollars into the economy by 2040. Therefore, we have rolled out 5G across all 36 states & UTs covering 98% of our districts and 80% of our population in just 22 months...It highlights the transformative powers of standardised innovation...," Scindia was further quoted as saying by ANI.

09:37 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
It's almost time

We're all set for PM Modi to kick off the eighth edition of the annual India Mobile Congress as well as the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024, which is being held in India for the first time. Stay tuned to our live blog for all the news and surprises from the event.

09:31 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
'Big day for telecom sector': PM Modi

A big day for the telecom sector!At 10 AM tomorrow, 15th October, the International Telecommunication Union - World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly and the India Mobile Congress 2024 will be inaugurated. These forums are important ones, bringing together leading…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 14, 2024
09:28 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
2024 India Mobile Congress: What's the theme?

The theme for the eighth edition of IMC is ‘The Future is Now’. It was announced by Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia in July this year, where he also launched the India Mobile Congress 2024 app and website.

“Technology is best when it brings people together. There can be no better example than our country Bharat [...] It is technology and communications that will provide a platform of opportunities. Communications and networks will bring together the people from first village of India to the people of central villages of India," Scindia had said.

09:25 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
2024 India Mobile Congress: What to expect

In his address, PM Modi is likely to provide updates on the development of 6G services in India. India's telecom majors such as Airtel and Reliance Jio are expected to demonstrate the use cases of 5G at the exhibition. Smartphone manufacturing giants Xiaomi and chip maker Qualcomm are also expected to show off their latest tech innovations pertaining to telecommunications and digital technology. Needless to say, AI will probably be a big focus of the event. There is also some speculation that Xiaomi and Snapdragon are expected to announce a partnership at IMC 2024.

09:17 (IST) 15 Oct 2024
Eighth edition of India Mobile Congress

The India Mobile Congress 2024 is a four-day event that is commencing on October 15 and will go on till October 18. It will showcase over 400 exhibitors, about 900 startups, and participation from over 120 countries. The event is also likely to showcase more than 900 technology use case scenarios, host more than 100 sessions and discussion with over 600 global and Indian speakers, according to a government press release.

 
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