PM Modi stresses on the need to ensure timely roll-out of 5G technology to empower millions of Indians

New Delhi, December 08 :

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed on the need to work together to ensure timely roll-out of next generation 5G technology to leapfrog into the future and empower millions of people in the country. Mr Modi was delivering the inaugural address at the virtual India Mobile Congress (IMC) today. 

Addressing the event, the Prime Minister gave a call to work together to make India a global hub for telecom equipment, design, development and manufacturing. He said, India has achieved much success in mobile phone manufacturing and it is emerging as one of the most preferred destinations.

Mr Modi cautioned that due to technological upgradation, there is a culture of replacing handsets and gadgets frequently. He called for setting up a task-force to think of a better way of handling the electronic waste and create a circular economy.

The Prime Minister said that the digital potential of the country is immense. He said, with the help of mobile technology, poor and vulnerable sections of the society have been provided help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Modi said, benefits worth billions of dollars have been provided to millions of Indians and billions of cashless transactions have been made with the help of mobile technology.

The Prime Minister said, India will launch the world’s biggest COVID-19 vaccination drive with the help of mobile technology. Appreciating the country’s growth in the mobile and internet connectivity sector, Mr. Modi said, India has a billion plus mobile phone users and 750 million internet users. He said, half of total internet users have been added in the last four years. He said, India’s digital appetite is unprecedented and unparalleled and it is important to think and plan how we improve lives with the upcoming technology revolution.

The theme for IMC 2020 is “Inclusive Innovation – Smart, Secure, Sustainable”. It will be held till the 10th of this month. IMC 2020 aims to align to the Prime Minister’s vision to promote ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’, ‘Digital Inclusivity’, and ‘Sustainable development, entrepreneurship and innovation’. It also aims to drive foreign and local investments, encourage Research and Development in the telecom and emerging technology sectors.