PM Modi at IMC 2026: Mobile phones now tools of good governance, 5G reaches every district
Synopsis
At the 10th India Mobile Congress, Modi reframed India's telecom story: it is no longer about speeds or spectrum, but about governance at scale. With 5.5 lakh 5G base stations live and internet speeds 10 times faster than 2022, India's mobile network has become the backbone of public service delivery — a claim stress-tested, Modi argued, by how India kept running through Covid-19 while much of the world stood still.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi addressed the 10th India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 in New Delhi on 8 October 2026 .
India now has more than 5.5 lakh 5G base stations , with 5G connectivity reaching every district in the country.
Mobile internet speeds are 10 times higher than they were in 2022 , when 5G was launched from the same IMC platform.
Modi framed the mobile phone as a 'tool of good governance', crediting the Digital India programme with addressing the earlier digital divide.
IMC 2026 runs from 7–10 October 2026 , organised by the Department of Telecommunications and COAI .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 October 2026 said India's telecom sector has moved well beyond networks, spectrum, and internet speeds, with mobile connectivity now serving as a critical enabler of governance and citizens' access to public services. Addressing the 10th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 in New Delhi, Modi declared that mobile phones have fundamentally transformed their role in public life over the past decade.
'Mobile phone has become a tool of good governance,' the Prime Minister said at the event.
Key Developments at IMC 2026
Modi traced IMC's journey as a milestone platform in India's digital evolution, citing the launch of 5G from the same stage in 2022 and the country's hosting of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2024. He noted that in 2023, the focus had shifted from 5G rollout to 5G 'reach-out', and today the technology has penetrated every district in the country.
'Today, there are more than 5.5 lakh base stations in India, from where 5G networks are operating. And mobile internet speed is 10 times higher compared to 2022,' Modi said.
Bridging the Digital Divide
The Prime Minister acknowledged that a decade ago, the digital divide was a pressing challenge, with new technology risking becoming a privilege of the few. He said the government responded through the Digital India programme, placing the mobile phone at the centre of expanding digital access and public service delivery.
'For Indians, telecom means much more,' Modi said, framing the sector's growth not just in terms of infrastructure metrics but in terms of its social and governance impact. This year's IMC theme, 'Scale Without Boundaries', he noted, resonated directly with India's own experience of scaling telecom and digital infrastructure at an unprecedented pace.
Covid-19 and the Digital Backbone
Modi cited the Covid-19 pandemic as a defining test for India's digital ecosystem, noting that offices, banks, and educational institutions continued to function in India even as activity in several parts of the world ground to a halt. He said this resilience demonstrated the depth and reliability of the country's mobile and digital infrastructure.
About IMC 2026
The 10th edition of India Mobile Congress is being held from 7 to 10 October 2026 in the national capital. The event is jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). Modi welcomed telecom operators, industry leaders, domain experts, and startup representatives from across the world who attended the event, underscoring IMC's emergence as a global platform for showcasing India's telecom ambitions.
As 5G consolidates its reach and the government eyes the next wave of digital governance, India's telecom sector appears poised for its next phase — one where connectivity is measured not just in megabits per second, but in services delivered to the last mile.
Point of View
Making it harder to scrutinise on pure commercial returns. The 5.5 lakh base stations claim is striking, but the metric that matters more is service uptake: how many citizens are actually accessing government services digitally, and with what reliability. India's digital infrastructure survived Covid-19, but outages, rural connectivity gaps, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities remain underdiscussed at headline events like IMC. The 'Scale Without Boundaries' theme also carries an implicit pitch to global investors — the real audience for several of Modi's IMC remarks.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi say at India Mobile Congress 2026?
PM Modi declared at IMC 2026 on 8 October 2026 that mobile phones have evolved from communication devices into tools of good governance, and that India's telecom sector must be measured by its impact on citizens' access to public services, not just network speeds. He also highlighted that 5G now covers every district in India.
How many 5G base stations does India have as of 2026?
India has more than 5.5 lakh 5G base stations as of October 2026, according to PM Modi's address at IMC 2026. Mobile internet speeds have also grown 10 times compared to 2022, when 5G was first launched in the country.
What is India Mobile Congress 2026 and when is it held?
India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 is the 10th edition of India's premier telecom and digital technology event, held from 7 to 10 October 2026 in New Delhi. It is jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
How did the Digital India programme address the digital divide?
According to PM Modi, the Digital India programme placed the mobile phone at the centre of expanding digital access and public service delivery, specifically to counter the risk of new technology becoming a privilege of the few. The initiative has been credited with helping bridge the gap between urban and rural digital connectivity.
Why did PM Modi refer to the Covid-19 pandemic at IMC 2026?
Modi cited the Covid-19 pandemic to demonstrate the resilience of India's digital ecosystem, noting that offices, banks, and schools continued to function in India when much of the world had come to a standstill. He used this as evidence that India's mobile and digital infrastructure had matured into a genuine public utility.
