India Mobile Congress 2025: Modi’s Call to Innovate and Build the $1 Trillion Digital Economy

At Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, the energy was unmistakable. Rows of innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers converged under one roof for what has now become Asia’s largest technology and innovation showcase — the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the stage to inaugurate its ninth edition, his message to the world was clear: “This is the best time to invest, innovate and make in India.”

The event, jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), marked not just another milestone in India’s digital journey but a reaffirmation of the country’s ambition to lead the global technology curve.

With the theme “Innovate to Transform”, IMC 2025 places innovation — particularly from India’s startups — at the heart of its vision for inclusive digital growth and technological sovereignty.

From 2G Struggles to 5G Ubiquity: India’s Digital Transformation

In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Modi reflected on India’s extraordinary evolution — from the days of patchy 2G signals to near-universal 5G coverage across the country.

“The country that once lagged in digital access now leads in digital adoption. From villages to metros, 5G is empowering every Indian,” he said.

The statistics tell the story. Since 2014, mobile phone manufacturing has increased 28 times, electronics production has risen sixfold, and mobile exports have surged 127 times. India has transformed from being a consumer of technology to a global supplier of it — a shift Modi credited to a potent mix of youth-led innovation, policy reforms, and entrepreneurial energy.

“This success story has been written by India’s tax-saving mindset and led by Indian youth. Today, digital connectivity is not a privilege or luxury — it’s a fundamental part of life,” he added.

Made-in-India 4G Stack: A Step Toward Digital Sovereignty

A defining highlight of IMC 2025 was the launch of the Made-in-India 4G Stack, a fully indigenous technology platform that places India among a select group of just five nations with such capability.

Calling it a symbol of India’s technological independence, the Prime Minister said the stack would enable faster, more secure, and more reliable connectivity. On the day of its rollout, one lakh telecom towers were activated simultaneously, extending service to over two crore citizens — many in rural and previously underserved areas.

Crucially, the indigenous stack is also export-ready, signalling India’s emergence as a serious global player in telecom infrastructure. “Our technology is now ready to serve not just India, but the world,” Modi said, linking the innovation to the government’s ‘India 6G Vision 2030’ roadmap.

Fueling Innovation: Policy, Funding, and the Startup Engine

If IMC 2025 celebrates India’s digital progress, it also underscores the government’s deepening focus on startups as the engines of innovation.

Modi pointed to the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) and the Digital Communication Innovation Square, initiatives that provide financial and infrastructure support for startups working in advanced areas such as 5G/6G, quantum communications, and optical and terahertz technologies.

“We are not just supporting innovation — we are creating a national innovation network where startups, industry, and academia work together to build the technologies of tomorrow,” the Prime Minister said.

This year’s IMC edition hosts over 500 startups showcasing solutions in semiconductors, cybersecurity, AI, smart mobility, and fintech — a clear reflection of how India’s startup ecosystem has matured into a global force.

“This is the time for Indian startups to rise and seize the world’s attention. The government is standing firmly with your potential,” Modi told entrepreneurs.

India Hosts the Startup World Cup 2025

Adding to the excitement, Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia announced that India is hosting the Startup World Cup 2025 – India Edition as part of IMC. The competition will feature 550 startups pitching before 300 global venture capitalists and private equity investors.

Fifteen winners from India will advance to the global finale in San Francisco, where they will compete for a $1 million prize. “With the Prime Minister’s vision guiding us, I am confident India will come back victorious from that World Cup,” Scindia said.

The initiative not only elevates India’s role in global startup networks but also cements IMC’s position as a launchpad for cross-border collaboration and funding opportunities.

Affordable Connectivity: The Cornerstone of India’s Digital Growth

A key enabler of this digital transformation has been the dramatic reduction in data costs. In 2014, 1 GB of mobile data cost ₹287; today, it is just ₹9.11 — cheaper than a cup of tea. This affordability has made India the largest consumer of mobile data per user globally and has driven digital inclusion across geographies.

“Affordable connectivity is the foundation of our digital revolution,” Modi said, noting that 99.9% of districts now have 5G access.

Scindia added that India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) — comprising the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile), UPI, and DBT platforms — has become a global benchmark. Nearly 20 countries are now in discussions to replicate India’s model.

Reforms for a Digital Future

India’s digital rise, Modi emphasized, required not just infrastructure but a modern legal framework. The Telecommunications Act 2023 replaced colonial-era laws like the Indian Telegraph Act, ushering in faster approvals, smoother Right-of-Way permissions, and a more facilitative environment for private sector investment.

“Today, approvals are faster, and the environment for investment and innovation is more conducive than ever,” he said.

Cybersecurity and Data Sovereignty Take Center Stage

As digital adoption expands, so do risks. Modi highlighted that data protection and cyber safety are central to India’s digital policy. New regulations have tightened cyber fraud laws and improved grievance redressal mechanisms, ensuring accountability in a hyperconnected era.

“The world is generating more data than ever before. We must ensure that our data — our new gold — is stored, secured, and managed responsibly,” he said, adding that India’s investments in cloud infrastructure and data centers will help it emerge as a global data hub.

Semiconductors: Building the Next Frontier

Addressing global supply chain disruptions, Modi termed it an “opportunity for India to lead.” He revealed that ten semiconductor manufacturing units are currently in development across the country.

“Wherever there are global bottlenecks, India has the opportunity to provide solutions,” he noted, positioning semiconductor fabrication as the next pillar of India’s self-reliant technology ecosystem.

From ‘Make in India’ to ‘Innovate in India’

The Prime Minister tied India’s technological advances to his broader Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. “There was a time when the world mocked the idea of Make in India. Today, the same world seeks partnerships with us,” he said.

India is now the second-largest telecom and 5G market globally — powered by its skilled manpower and its startup-led innovation culture. With the world’s fastest-growing developer base, India is poised to lead the next phase of global innovation.

IMC 2025: The Global Tech Convergence

Running from October 8–11, IMC 2025 brings together over 1.5 lakh visitors from 150 countries, 7,000 global delegates, and 400 exhibiting companies. Spread across 42,000 square meters, the event showcases 1,600+ new use cases across AI, 5G/6G, green tech, smart mobility, and quantum computing through 100 curated sessions and 800 speakers.

Delegations from Japan, Canada, the UK, Russia, Ireland, and Austria are among the international participants, reaffirming IMC’s status as a platform for global technology diplomacy.

As Scindia summed it up: “From being a technology taker, India has become the digital flag bearer of the world.”

The Prime Minister’s closing message was a direct appeal to India’s entrepreneurs: to look beyond the domestic market and solve global challenges.

“In mobile manufacturing, we need to work more on chipsets, batteries, displays, and sensors. Every bottleneck is a business opportunity for India’s innovators,” he said, urging startups, academia, and industry to collaborate on frontier technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity.

A Defining Moment for India’s Innovation Economy

With 1.95 lakh DPIIT-recognized startups, India is already the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. Schemes such as Startup India, SAMRIDH, TTDF, and Digital Innovation Square are channeling capital and mentorship into these ventures — many of which are now integral to the telecom and electronics value chain.

Experts view IMC 2025 not just as a technology expo but as a policy showcase and investment catalyst — one that marks India’s transition from a technology consumer to a global creator.

The convergence of policy reform, infrastructure expansion, and startup energy is now driving India toward its $1 trillion digital economy goal by 2030.

As Prime Minister Modi put it, “This is the best time to invest, innovate, and make in India. Our youth, our innovators, and our entrepreneurs will shape not just India’s future — but the future of the world.”