India's broadband base surged from 60 mn to 1 billion in a decade: Scindia at IMC 2026
Synopsis
India's broadband subscriber base has multiplied nearly 17-fold — from 60 million to 1 billion — in just one decade, Communications Minister Scindia declared at IMC 2026. With 1 GB of mobile data now priced at roughly ₹8, India's data affordability story is arguably its most disruptive policy outcome, and the next contest is over 5G depth and rural quality of service.
Key Takeaways
India's broadband subscriber base grew from 60 million to 1 billion in the last decade, said Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia at IMC 2026 on 8 October 2026 .
India's mobile data cost stands at approximately ₹8 per 1 GB , among the lowest globally.
The 10th edition of India Mobile Congress is being held at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi from 7–10 October 2026 , organised by the Department of Telecommunications and COAI .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated IMC 2026; Scindia also marked 7 October as completing 25 years of Modi's service as a head of government.
Policy focus is expected to shift from connectivity expansion to 5G adoption, rural coverage quality, and digital outcomes.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday, 8 October 2026, said India has expanded its broadband subscriber base from approximately 60 million to 1 billion over the past decade — a transformation he described as a fundamental reshaping of the country's digital landscape. Scindia made the remarks while addressing the 10th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 in New Delhi.
Scale of the Transformation
Scindia highlighted that India now offers some of the world's most affordable mobile data, with the cost of 1 GB standing at approximately ₹8. He argued that the steep fall in data costs was a direct driver of mass digital inclusion, enabling millions of first-time internet users to participate in the digital economy.
'Every drop in cost, every increase in usage, has expanded that canvas in which every single Indian can connect, can create, and can innovate,' Scindia said.
Modi's Vision Cited as the Catalyst
The minister credited the expansion to a policy direction set in 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid out a vision of a digitally connected India. 'PM Modi gave us a vision in 2014 that India would be connected and would lead in design in the future,' Scindia said.
He further claimed that what India's telecom sector accomplished in a single decade 'might have taken many other nations centuries to accomplish' — a sweeping assertion that underscores the government's framing of the broadband push as a historic achievement.
Modi's 25 Years as Head of Government
Scindia also marked 7 October as a significant date, noting that it marked 25 years of Prime Minister Modi serving as a head of government — counting his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 through his current role as Prime Minister. 'October 7th will remain a significant day in the history of our nation,' he said, adding that Modi had traversed the journey guided by the philosophy that 'Work is worship.'
IMC 2026: The Event and Its Significance
Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the 10th edition of India Mobile Congress 2026 earlier on Thursday, arriving at the venue to be felicitated by Scindia ahead of the inaugural programme. The four-day event — running from 7 to 10 October — is being held at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, and is jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
IMC has grown into one of Asia's largest technology and telecom showcases, and this edition's focus on a decade of broadband growth signals a pivot from infrastructure-building to demonstrating its socioeconomic outcomes.
What Comes Next
With India's broadband base now at 1 billion subscribers, the policy conversation is expected to shift from connectivity expansion to quality of service, rural last-mile coverage, and the next frontier of 5G adoption. Industry stakeholders and regulators are anticipated to use the IMC platform to outline the next phase of the country's digital roadmap.
Point of View
But the milestone risks becoming a headline that obscures the next challenge. Subscriber count and quality of connectivity are different metrics — rural India still contends with patchy 4G and nascent 5G rollout. The government's framing of affordability as the centrepiece is legitimate, but the shift from access to meaningful usage — health, education, livelihoods — is where the real measurement of digital transformation lies. IMC 2026's emphasis on celebrating the past decade should be matched by granular commitments on what the next decade's targets look like.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has India's broadband subscriber base grown in the last decade?
India's broadband subscriber base grew from approximately 60 million to 1 billion over the past decade, according to Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who made the announcement at India Mobile Congress 2026 in New Delhi on 8 October 2026. This represents a nearly 17-fold increase.
What is the current cost of mobile data in India?
As of October 2026, India offers mobile data at approximately ₹8 per 1 GB, according to Minister Scindia, placing it among the cheapest in the world. The sharp fall in data costs has been cited as a key driver of the broadband subscriber surge.
What is India Mobile Congress 2026?
India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 is the 10th edition of Asia's largest technology and telecom exhibition, running from 7 to 10 October at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. It is jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India, and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Why did Scindia describe 7 October as a significant day?
Scindia noted that 7 October marked the completion of 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi serving as a head of government, counting his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 and his subsequent years as Prime Minister. He called it 'a privilege for us citizens.'
What is the significance of India reaching 1 billion broadband subscribers?
Reaching 1 billion broadband subscribers positions India among the largest connected populations in the world and signals a fundamental shift in digital inclusion. The milestone sets the stage for the next policy debate around 5G depth, rural last-mile connectivity, and translating access into measurable socioeconomic outcomes.
