5G Launch Live: PM Modi says launch of 5G gift from telecom industry to 130cr Indians

Nearly five years after India embarked on the road to launching the next generation of mobile telephony, 5G services have arrived in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ushered India into the 5G era on Saturday with the launch of 5G telephony services in the country at the India Mobile Conference 2022. Available in select cities initially, the ultra-high-speed internet on mobile phones will progressively expand to the entire country over the next few years.

Hailing the momentous occasion as a historic day for the country, PM Modi said the government focus on four pillars. “First, the price of the device. Second, digital connectivity. Third, the cost of data. Fourth, and most importantly, the idea of ‘digital first,”. After inaugurating the exhibition at Pragati Maidan, he went around pavilions set up by different telecom operators and technology providers to get a firsthand experience of what 5G can do.

Accompanied by Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and billionaires Mukesh Ambani of Reliance, Sunil Bharti Mittal of Bharti Airtel, and Kumar Mangalam Birla of Vodafone Idea, PM Modi took out time to go through the indigenous development of end-to-end 5G technology.

Minister Vaishnaw said that in the next six months, 5G services to be available in over 200 cities, and attempts are being made to make 5G services available in 80-90% of the country in the next two years. Mukesh Ambani says Reliance Jio’s 5G services will be available pan India by December 2023. “ India has started late, but will finish first..will have the best quality and most affordable 5G services.” Sunil Mitta says Bharti Airtel is to begin rolling out today and offer pan India 5G services by March 2024.

Modi said, adding that his government is working on the “internet for all”. “This is a historic day for 21st Century India. 5G technology will revolutionize the telecom sector. This summit is global but the voice and event are local.”

Modi added, saying the feat was a product of initiatives like Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. “At the time of 2G, 3G, and 4G, India was dependent on other countries for technology. But with 5G, India has created a new history. With 5G, India is setting a global standard in telecom technology for the first time,” the PM.