Modi floats 5G services, India enters era of ultra fast Internet

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched 5G telephony services, ushering in an era of ultra high-speed Internet.

Addressing the gathering in the presence of industry leaders including Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited; Sunil Bharti Mital, Chairman, Bharti Enterprise; Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group and others, the prime minister said that the summit might be global but its repercussions and directions are local.

“This event will be etched in history,” Modi said at the launch.

He said it was a “step towards the new era in the country” and “the beginning of infinite opportunities.”

Modi also inaugurated the sixth edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) in New Delhi and also witnessed the IMC Exhibition that was put on the occasion.

“Today, 130 crore Indians are geting a wonderful git in the form of 5G from the country and from the telecom industry of the country. 5G is a knock on the doors of a new era in the country. 5G is the beginning of an infinite sky of opportunities. I congratulate every Indian for this.”

The PM noted with satisfaction that in this launch of 5G and the march of technology, rural areas and workers are equal partners.

Stressing on the technological growth that India has been witnessing in the last few years, the prime minister said, “New India will not remain a mere consumer of technology, but India will play an active role in the development and implementation of that technology.”

The prime minister pointed out that India was dependent on other countries for 2G, 3G and 4G technologies. But with 5G, India has created a new history.

“With 5G, India is seting a global standard in telecom technology for the first time,” he remarked.

Talking about Digital India, the prime minister said that some people think that this is just a government scheme. “But Digital India is not just a name, it is a big vision for the development of the country. The goal of this vision is to bring that technology to the common people, which works for the people, works by connecting with the people.”

Focussing on the need for a holistic approach to Digital India, the prime minister elaborated “We focused on four pillars, in four directions at once. First, the price of the device; second, digital connectivity; third, the cost of data; fourth, and most importantly, the idea of ‘digital first.’

Regarding the first pillar, the prime minister said that the low cost of devices can only be achieved through Aatmnirbharta. The Prime Minister recalled that there were only two mobile manufacturing units in India till eight years ago.

“These numbers have now gone up to 200,” Modi said.

The prime minister underlined that from exporting zero mobile phones in 2014, today we have become a mobile phone exporting country worth thousands of crores.

“Naturally, all these efforts have had an impact on the cost of the device. Now we have started geting more features at a lower cost,” he added.

Modi also mentioned that India had 25 crore Internet connections back in 2014; a number that has now increased to 85 crore. More Internet users are coming onboard from rural areas. 5G will play a key role in how users new and old will benefit from the Internet and its possibilities.

“Many people used to make fun of my Aatmanirbhar Bharat - but we increased mobile phone manufacturing units in India. 8 years back, there were only two mobile manufacturing units. Today there are over 200 units in India. We are at number 2 in the world and are exporting our mobile phone to the world,” said the PM.

PM Modi also virtually interacted with Metro workers, who were present inside a Metro tunnel, via 5G technology.

The Prime Minister said that the cost of data is among the lowest in the world. It has come down from Rs300 per GB to about Rs10 per GB.

Remarking on the consumer-centric focussed efforts of the government, the prime minister said that the cost of data in India has remained very low due.

Vodafone Idea (Vi) on Saturday switched on its live 5G network here as Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the first call, using the ‘Vi 5G Digital Twin’ technology, to interact with the construction workers at Delhi Metro’s under-construction tunnel.

Using high-speed ultra-low latency 5G network, Vi demonstrated at the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) 2022 how 5G technology can be used in India for worker safety and efficiency in supervision of critical construction sites such as tunnels, underground working sites, mines etc.

“Vi’s first step in the 5G era is an important milestone in India’s new generation technology odyssey. Vi stands commited to bring the finest in innovative technology and service offerings to take 1.3 billion Indians on an accelerated journey towards individual and collective growth,” said Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Group.