Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that PM Modi’s $17 billion BharatNet project is bringing a new digital revolution in the country by connecting every gram panchayat. He informed that there are 500 million 5G users in India and the country will lead the world in 6G.
New Delhi [भारत]July 29 (ANI): Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said the central government’s ambitious BharatNet project, a nearly $17 billion public sector project envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is working to connect every gram panchayat across the country. With the integration of telecom and broadband infrastructure, it is bringing a new digital revolution in India.
Scindia said, “A country where there are 500 million subscribers of 5G today, a country that has an ambitious public sector project like BharatNet, which cost about $17 billion, which is envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take connectivity to every gram panchayat in India. And this integration of broadband with telecom really brings a new digital revolution, a revolution that India leads across the world.”
Theme launch of IMC 2026
Speaking at the launch of the theme for the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, the minister described the occasion as a historic milestone. He said it marks 10 years of the Indian Mobile Congress and 12 years of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, which, according to him, has empowered India’s digital revolution.
India will lead the world in 6G
Scindia said India has witnessed a rapid transformation in the telecom sector in the last decade, moving from the 2G generation to the 5G generation through sustained investment in digital infrastructure and supportive government policies. “I have always said that India was behind the world in 4G, caught up with the world in 5G and we will lead the world in 6G,” the minister said. He reiterated the government’s ambition to put India at the forefront of next generation telecommunications.
India’s growing digital potential
Referring to the theme of IMC 2026 — “Scale Beyond Boundaries”, Scindia said it reflects India’s growing capabilities in telecommunication and digital technologies as well as its growing role in the global digital ecosystem. He noted that India has 500 million 5G subscribers today, which he described as a reflection of the country’s rapid adoption of next-generation telecom services and the pace of expansion of digital connectivity.
The Minister said that the nationwide rollout of BharatNet, coupled with broadband expansion and telecom infrastructure, is laying the foundation for inclusive digital growth by extending connectivity to every gram panchayat across the country.
IMC now a global event
Scindia further said that India has emerged as one of the largest telecom growth markets in the world, making Indian Mobile Congress a global platform for innovation, investment and collaboration. He said, “India represents one of the largest growth markets for telecom worldwide and hence IMC today is no longer just an Indian event, it is no longer just a South Asian event, but today it has transformed into a global event.”
Inviting industry leaders, innovators, startups, policy makers and technology companies from across the world, Scindia said the Indian Mobile Congress 2026 will be organized from October 7 to 10 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. He urged global stakeholders to attend the event and be a part of India’s digital transformation journey, and expressed confidence that the country’s advancements in telecommunications, broadband connectivity and emerging technologies will help shape the future of global digital innovation. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)