Vikrant Shekhawat : Oct 15, 2024, 11:52 AM
IMC 2024: The 8th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) kicked off today with a grand opening. The event is being organised in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications and COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India). Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi inaugurated the mega tech event, which was also attended by Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. The event showcases India's rapidly growing digital and telecom infrastructure, with a focus on the growing number of mobile and broadband users, rapid expansion of 5G networks and modern technological advancements like AI.Hosting ITU-WTSA ConferenceAlong with IMC, Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated the ITU-WTSA (World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly) held at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi. The event is being organised by the United Nation's International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The aim of this assembly is to discuss and advance global telecom standards.Expansion of digital connectivity in IndiaUnion Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia mentioned the tremendous changes taking place in India's telecom sector on the platform of IMC 2024. He said that due to the availability of mobile phones and broadband in India, every family in the country is getting access to many important services, including banking, education, and government schemes. He also informed that the number of mobile users in India has increased from 90 crores to 116 crores. Also, the reach of optical fiber connectivity (OFC) has increased from 11 million kilometers to 41 million kilometers.India becomes the fastest 5G rollout countryReferring to the rapid expansion of 5G technology, Scindia said that India has provided 5G service in 98% of districts and 90% of villages in just 21 months. Due to this, digital payments and other digital services are seeing tremendous growth in the country. Due to services like UPI (Unified Payments Interface), the number of digital transactions in India has increased rapidly.Contribution of telecom companiesDuring IMC 2024, the chairmen of major telecom companies also gave information about their respective plans and technological innovations.Jio Chairman Akash Ambani gave suggestions on data center policy in India and promoting self-reliance in the field of AI.Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said that Airtel has become the first telecom operator in the country to launch technology to block fake calls using AI. Millions of fake calls and messages have already been blocked on Airtel's network.Vodafone-Idea (Vi) Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla also presented the company's roadmap to stop fake calls and messaging and said that Vi is working closely with the government and regulatory bodies for this.Highlights of Prime Minister Modi's addressPrime Minister Modi, in his address after the inauguration of IMC 2024, praised the progress being made in India's telecom and digital sector. He said that India has 120 crore mobile users and 95 crore internet users, which is one of the largest digital markets in the world. He also emphasized that India is doing more than 40% of the world's real time digital transactions, which is a major milestone in the use of digital connectivity.PM Modi said that India has made digital connectivity an effective tool for "last mile delivery", making government services and schemes accessible to every corner of the country. He described the combination of events like IMC and WTSA as important, while WTSA aims to work on global telecom standards, IMC focuses on strengthening the country's digital services.ConclusionIMC 2024 is not only Asia's largest tech event but also symbolizes the unique progress of India's digital and telecom sector. Key topics like 5G, AI, and data security are being discussed in this event, which are making India a global technology leader. India is rapidly emerging as a digital powerhouse under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, and IMC 2024 is an important step in this direction.