THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, OCTOBER 6, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Tuesday said technology must become a tool for inclusive and
sustainable development, stressing the need to democratise digital services,
make them affordable and accessible, and take them to the last mile to ensure
that no section of society is left behind.
Modi made the remarks
while interacting with members of the Board of the Global System for Mobile
Communications Association (GSMA) at Seva Teerth here, ahead of the India
Mobile Congress.
The GSMA is a global
organisation that brings together the mobile ecosystem, representing mobile
operators and organisations across the mobile sector and adjacent industries.
The prime minister
emphasised that democratisation of technology is essential to ensure inclusive
development and prevent the widening of the digital divide.
He stressed the need
to make technology and digital services affordable and accessible, particularly
for countries of the Global South, and underlined the importance of taking
technology to the last mile.
Highlighting the transformative
potential of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Modi said it could play a
particularly important role in developing countries.
He noted that his
discussions on DPI with several world leaders had demonstrated its growing
global relevance and said such platforms could serve as a springboard for
countries of the Global South.
The prime minister
also flagged the growing challenge of digital and cyber fraud and said it
required technology-driven solutions.
He suggested
sustained awareness messages for users to caution them about potential fraud
calls and help strengthen digital safety.
On emerging
technologies, Modi highlighted the need for global standards and common rules.
Addressing the
growing threat posed by deepfakes and AI-generated content, he suggested
exploring mechanisms that would enable users to immediately identify the origin
of such content.
The GSMA Board
members highlighted India's emergence as a global leader in digital and mobile
connectivity, noting the rapid expansion of 4G and 5G networks, the scale of
its digital public infrastructure and the growth of the telecom and mobile
manufacturing ecosystem.
They appreciated
India's investment-friendly policy framework and emphasised the importance of
secure, resilient and trusted digital infrastructure in supporting continued
digital growth.
The Board members also highlighted growing opportunities for international cooperation with India in areas such as 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital inclusion and satellite connectivity.
The meeting was attended by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, GSMA Board members and senior officials of the Government of India.
