PM Modi addresses India Mobile Congress 2026
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the India Mobile Congress on October 8, 2026, calling the telecom sector's growing self-reliance 'encouraging' — a signal that indigenisation of network hardware and software remains a firm policy priority.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi addressed the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 on October 8, 2026 .
He described India's telecom sector's move toward self-reliance as 'encouraging.' IMC is Asia's largest technology and telecom event, attracting global industry and policymakers.
The self-reliance push covers telecom hardware, network equipment, and core infrastructure components.
The address reinforces India's broader indigenisation agenda across strategic technology sectors.
India's telecom ambitions took centre stage on Thursday, October 8, 2026, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the India Mobile Congress (IMC), calling out a quiet but consequential shift — the country's telecom sector is steadily moving toward greater self-reliance.
Self-reliance as the new benchmark for Indian telecom
Speaking at what is widely regarded as Asia's largest technology and telecom event, Prime Minister Modi underscored the momentum building inside India's telecommunications ecosystem. His observation that the sector is 'steadily moving towards greater self-reliance' signals a policy posture that goes well beyond connectivity — it frames telecom infrastructure as a strategic asset, not merely a service industry.
The India Mobile Congress serves as the annual convergence point for global telecom majors, domestic manufacturers, policymakers, and startups. Its scale and participation make it one of the most visible stages for signalling India's technology direction to international audiences.
Why 'self-reliance' in telecom carries weight in 2026
The phrase is not rhetorical. India has been on a deliberate push to reduce dependence on imported telecom hardware — from radio equipment and base stations to core network components. Domestic manufacturers and government-backed production-linked incentive schemes have been central to this drive, nudging the industry toward indigenous design and manufacturing.
The 5G rollout across Indian cities has already brought with it questions of supply-chain sovereignty — who makes the antennas, who writes the stack, who controls the core. Each edition of IMC has carried that undercurrent more loudly than the last, and PM Modi's framing today makes it the headline, not the footnote.
India's telecom sector at a defining crossroads
Globally, the race to own next-generation network technology — from advanced 5G to early 6G research — is intensifying. India's ability to participate as a maker, not just a buyer, will determine how much economic value stays within its borders and how much leverage it holds in future multilateral tech negotiations. The Prime Minister's encouraging tone at IMC 2026 suggests the government sees genuine progress worth acknowledging — and accelerating.
For industry, the signal is clear: policy tailwinds for domestic telecom manufacturing are not easing. For global partners watching from the sidelines, India is telling a story of a market that wants to be a peer, not a dependent.
Point of View
The Prime Minister sends a dual signal — reassuring domestic manufacturers that incentive structures will hold, while signalling to foreign partners that India expects technology transfer and co-production, not simply imports. The timing matters: as global 6G standards begin to crystallise, India's ability to influence those standards depends on whether it can demonstrate credible domestic manufacturing depth. Modi's IMC address is a chapter in that longer geopolitical-technology story.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi say at India Mobile Congress 2026?
PM Modi said it is 'encouraging to see India's telecom sector steadily moving towards greater self-reliance,' addressing delegates at IMC 2026 on October 8, 2026.
What is India Mobile Congress?
India Mobile Congress is Asia's largest technology and telecom event, held annually and attended by global telecom companies, domestic manufacturers, startups, and government policymakers.
What does telecom self-reliance mean for India?
Telecom self-reliance refers to India's push to design and manufacture its own network equipment — including base stations, antennas, and core network components — rather than relying on imported hardware.
How does India's 5G rollout connect to self-reliance in telecom?
India's 5G expansion has intensified focus on supply-chain sovereignty, prompting policies that encourage domestic manufacturers to produce telecom hardware and software within the country.
Why is PM Modi's IMC 2026 address significant?
The address signals that indigenisation of telecom infrastructure remains a top government priority and that the policy environment — including production-linked incentives — will continue to favour domestic manufacturing.
