IndiaPosted at: Oct 8 2026 1:33PM


PM Modi calls for self-reliant telecom sector, global framework to counter deepfakes at IMC 2026

New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, calling for greater self-reliance in telecommunications, stronger digital security and a global framework to tackle emerging challenges such as deepfakes as India seeks to position itself as a creator and owner of next-generation technologies.
The four-day IMC 2026, being held from October 7 to 10 under the theme “Scale Without Boundaries”, brings together global technology companies, telecom operators, start-ups, investors, policymakers and researchers to showcase developments spanning 5G and 6G, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, cybersecurity, quantum communication and other emerging technologies.
Addressing the gathering, Modi said India’s telecom sector was “steadily moving towards greater self-reliance” and underlined the dramatic transformation of the mobile phone over the past decade from a communication device into a powerful instrument of governance, economic activity, entrepreneurship and digital empowerment.
“Over the past 10-12 years, the mobile phone has emerged not only as a modern means of communication but also as an important tool of good governance,” Modi said, stressing that mobile connectivity had remained at the heart of the government’s Digital India vision.
Recalling the situation a decade ago, the Prime Minister said the digital divide was a major challenge, with modern technology increasingly becoming a privilege available mainly to those who could afford access to it. “Digital India was an effort to change this situation, and we brought the mobile phone to its centre,” he said, describing the initiative as a major step towards democratising technology.
Modi said hundreds of government services were now accessible through mobile phones and government assistance was being transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. The mobile device, he said, had moved far beyond its traditional function of communication.
“Today, the mobile phone in India is also a gaming console and has become a studio for creation,” he said, pointing to the growing role of smartphones in entertainment, entrepreneurship, content creation and digital services.
The Prime Minister, however, stressed that the rapid expansion of the digital ecosystem must be accompanied by a stronger security architecture. With citizens, businesses and governments becoming increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, he said protecting both devices and networks had become a national priority.
“When telecom and digital technology have become so important, it is equally necessary to make the security framework related to them robust. The security of the phone and the security of the network are priorities for all of us,” Modi said.
He specifically drew attention to the growing threat posed by deepfakes and technology-enabled manipulation, arguing that the challenge could not be addressed by individual countries alone.
“We are also seeing how big a challenge deepfakes have become. Therefore, it is necessary that we work on a global framework for this,” he said, making a case for international cooperation to counter misinformation, manipulation and other emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
Modi also highlighted what he described as India’s transition from being predominantly a consumer of technology to becoming a creator of technology and intellectual property.
“In recent years, India has made the journey from consumer to creator,” he said, adding that the next objective was to ensure that products, designs, technologies and intellectual property were increasingly developed and owned within the country.
“Now India is moving towards a goal where the product and its design will be made in India, and its technology and IP will also belong to India,” he said.
The emphasis on technological self-reliance comes as the government seeks to deepen domestic capabilities in telecom equipment, semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence, 5G and 6G technologies and other strategic digital sectors. New Delhi has increasingly linked the expansion of digital infrastructure with its broader objective of building domestic technological capabilities and turning India into a global product, innovation and manufacturing hub.
The 2026 edition of IMC is centred on nine major technology and industry domains, including 5G and 6G, next-generation AI networks, semiconductors, non-terrestrial networks, cybersecurity, quantum communication, enterprise transformation, the circular economy and environmental, social and governance initiatives. The event also showcases emerging applications in smart mobility, stadium experiences, industrial robotics and transport technology.
Organised jointly by the Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India, IMC 2026 is expected to attract participants from more than 100 countries. The organisers have projected more than 1.5 lakh attendees, over 500 exhibitors and partners, more than 600 start-ups and about 900 thought leaders, besides more than 2,000 technology use cases and over 120 sessions. More than 700 investor meetings are also expected to facilitate collaboration between technology enterprises and global capital.
The 10th edition marks a decade of the India Mobile Congress, which has evolved from its original focus on connecting the next billion people into a wider platform for showcasing India’s telecom capabilities and debating the future direction of digital technology. Its four broad pillars are “Srishti”, representing the building of the future; “Samvardhan”, aimed at fuelling growth; “Sashakt”, focused on expanding opportunities; and “Suraksha”, centred on strengthening trust.
India’s telecom infrastructure has expanded sharply over the past decade. According to government figures, the country now has more than one billion broadband subscribers and more than one billion internet subscribers, while 5G services cover 99.9 per cent of districts and reach about 85 per cent of the population. Nearly 98.7 per cent of villages have 4G connectivity. The government has also highlighted the development of an indigenous 4G stack as a significant milestone in strengthening India’s domestic telecom technology capabilities.
Against this backdrop, Modi’s message at IMC 2026 went beyond the expansion of connectivity. His address sought to underline a broader transformation in which mobile and digital technologies are increasingly embedded in governance, financial inclusion, manufacturing, creative industries and national security.
The Prime Minister stressed that the next phase of India’s digital journey would have to strike a balance between rapid technological expansion and trust, resilience and security. Artificial intelligence, deepfakes, connected devices and increasingly sophisticated networks are opening up new economic and social possibilities while simultaneously creating new vulnerabilities, making international cooperation an increasingly important part of the digital agenda.
The government has positioned IMC 2026 as a platform not merely for displaying technological advances but also for converting them into scalable products and services. The event features programmes on 6G, AI-enabled networks, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, satellite communications, semiconductor supply chains, telecom manufacturing and start-ups, reflecting the widening intersection between telecommunications and the broader technology economy.
With its “Scale Without Boundaries” theme, the 10th India Mobile Congress seeks to project India’s digital transformation beyond the expansion of connectivity towards the development, ownership and global deployment of technologies, products and intellectual property created within the country. Modi’s inauguration message was clear: the next stage of India’s digital journey must combine wider access with innovation, technological self-reliance and robust security, even as the country seeks to play a larger role in shaping the global technology order. UNI SKA NST AAB
Tags: #PM Modi calls for self-reliant telecom sector# global framework to counter deepfakes at IMC 2026
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