The India Mobile Congress (IMC) has finally kicked off and it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also opened the 8th World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) at Bharat Mandapam. This year is special because it’s the first time India and the Asia-Pacific region are hosting this important global event. In his speech, PM Modi talked about the need for international rules on ethical artificial intelligence (AI) and data privacy. He compared this to the strict safety rules in the aviation industry, saying the digital world needs the same kind of protection. “In our connected world, security shouldn’t be an afterthought. We need global standards for ethical AI that respect the diversity of all countries,” he explained.
The Prime Minister also complimented India’s achievements in telecommunications. He mentioned that mobile data now costs just 12 cents per gigabyte. “In many countries, 1 GB of data is ten times more expensive! Today, the average Indian consumes around 30 GB of data a month,” he noted. Further, he mentioned that India has laid down optical fibers over a distance that’s eight times longer than the distance to the moon, which has allowed for widespread 5G connectivity.
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Moreover, the speech also highlighted the importance of technology that promotes security, dignity, and fairness. This is to ensure that no one gets left behind in this digital age. We need to innovate inclusively to create a strong and ethical tech future, he stated.
While connecting the WTSA with the India Mobile Congress, PM Modi stressed that both events are important for improving global connections. He highlighted the four main goals of Digital India: making devices affordable, ensuring good connectivity, providing easy access to data, and focusing on a digital-first approach, all designed to help India and the world.
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