Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for a human-centric approach to technology during the inauguration of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 in New Delhi. He stated that principles of security, dignity, and equity should guide global telecommunication standards.
Modi declared that the standards set at this assembly will shape the future. “Our goal should be that no country, no region, and no community is left behind in this digital transformation,” he said, highlighting the importance of balancing innovation with inclusion.
In conjunction with WTSA, Modi also inaugurated the 8th edition of the India Mobile Congress 2024. He noted that WTSA focuses on global standards while the India Mobile Congress emphasizes services. Together, both events create a platform for global standards and services.
The Prime Minister discussed reforms in India’s telecom sector, noting significant reductions in data costs. Internet data in India now averages just 12 cents per GB, far cheaper than in many countries where it can be 10 to 20 times more expensive. “Today, every Indian consumes about 30 GB of data monthly,” Modi added.
India currently boasts a mobile user base of 1.2 billion and 950 million internet users. The country accounts for over 40 percent of the world’s real-time digital transactions.
Modi highlighted how digital connectivity serves as an effective tool for last-mile delivery. He asserted, “Telecom is not just a medium of connectivity but also a medium of equity and opportunity in India.”
He pointed to the four pillars of Digital India: low-priced devices, extensive connectivity, accessible data, and a ‘Digital First’ goal. Modi praised the rapid installation of Wi-Fi in public places and undersea cables connecting remote islands.
“In just 10 years, India has laid optical fiber eight times the distance between Earth and the Moon,” he noted, emphasizing the nation’s progress toward 6G technology.
Modi underscored the impact of the JAM Trinity—Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile—on innovation and opportunity creation. He mentioned that the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has opened new business avenues.
“In an interconnected world, security cannot be an afterthought,” Modi stated, referencing India’s Data Protection Act and National Cyber Security Strategy.
This year marks the first time the ITU-WTSA is hosted in India and the Asia-Pacific, attracting over 3,000 industry leaders and tech experts from more than 190 countries. Union Minister for Communication Jyotiradiya Scindia and ITU Secretary General Doreen Bogdan-Martin were also present.
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