Indian Mobile Congress 2024 Inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi

The 8th edition of the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, Asia's largest telecom, media, and technology forum, was inaugurated today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Jointly organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the event is being held from October 15th to 18th at Pragati Maidan.

Prime Minister Modi's Inaugural Address

During the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi highlighted four key pillars of Digital India: affordable devices, extensive digital connectivity across the country, accessible data, and the goal of "Digital First." Before the formal inauguration, he took a walkthrough of the exhibition area, interacting with various technology showcases.

"The Future is Now" Theme Marks the Opening Day

The theme for this year's IMC, "The Future is Now," set the stage for the first day, which featured global leaders, innovators, and exhibitors demonstrating cutting-edge technologies, ideas, and use cases across various industries. The event aims to explore developments in telecom and digital infrastructure, quantum technology, 6G and 5G applications, cloud computing, edge technologies, and cybersecurity, among others.

Key Discussions and Panels

The inaugural day included a series of keynotes, panel discussions, and showcases by industry leaders. Major topics covered were:

- Telecom and Digital Infrastructure
- Quantum Technology and Circular Economy
- 6G and 5G Use Cases
- Cloud & Edge Computing, IoT, and Semiconductors
- Cybersecurity and Green Technology

The event also featured sessions and panels such as:

- Shaping the Future of Telecom: AI, 5G, and Multi-layer Convergence
- Xciting Networks, Unleashing Potential
- Orchestrating Future Connectivity with Open APIs
- The Future Engineered: Women Driving the Digital Paradigm
- Gadgets That Shape the Future: Insights and Innovations

IMC 2024 Continues Until October 18th

IMC 2024 will continue over the next few days, providing a platform for discussions on the future of telecommunications and technology, with an emphasis on India's role in driving digital transformation.

Commenting on the Honorable Prime Minister's Speech Lt. Gen. Dr. S.P. Kochhar, Director General, COAI, "India's telecom story is unfolding into a new phase. With the IMC 2024 and WTSA 2024 inauguration today, the deliberations for the next few days will play an important role in India's growing global leadership in the industry. We are truly inspired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister's inaugural speech, wherein he highlighted the focus on Digital India, technology leadership and aligned opportunities for women, among others. The industry is committed to following its vision of India playing a pragmatic role in the technology and telecom landscape while fostering a framework of rules and regulations for the sector."

Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA said, “India is doing absolutely phenomenon and the rollout of 5G is literally unmatched with India leading in 5G downloads. Regarding AI, we need to respect its complexity. We see a bright future in AI, but we need to respect the complex nature of AI, we need to follow the ethics etc. Spectrum is a lifeline and blood of operators, aligning on the spectrum is crucial to achieving our connectivity targets. We need to help the government to have a roadmap and timeline to align 6 GHz if they missed it and leave no one behind.”

Lt. Gen. Dr. S.P. Kochhar, DG, COAI said, “As we navigate the complexities of 5G, cybersecurity is no longer an overlay but an integral part of our digital fabric. With machines, sensors, and cross-border networks blurring boundaries, securing telecom networks is crucial for national security and economic stability. Policy, regulation, and technology must converge to address this challenge. The evolving threat landscape demands innovative solutions, from deep packet inspection to enterprise security operation centres. The imperative for sustainable cybersecurity measures has never been more pressing.” 

Andres Vicente, Head of MA Southeast Asia, Oceania and India, Ericsson said, “India is leading the 5G revolution, deploying half a billion base stations in just 22 months, covering 90% of the population. 5G will not only connect people but everything—from vehicles and wearables to critical industries—becoming the backbone of our society with 10 times the capacity of 4G and 30% less energy consumption."

Udayan Mukherjee, Intel Senior Fellow & Chief Architect of Network and Communications Products said, “At Intel, we're seeing a massive evolution in AI's role within telecommunications. AI's potential to enhance traditional processes like MIMO and link adaptation is transformative, especially as we push into 6G research, where AI-native and cloud-native RAN concepts are becoming a reality. Our advancements in silicon, including the AMX matrix acceleration on Gen 6 SOCs, are built to handle complex AI workloads at the network edge, ensuring future-proof solutions. We also recognize the Indian government's proactive contribution, with its support for 6G research and AI-driven telecom innovation. This collaboration enables smarter, more efficient networks capable of predictive maintenance and real-time problem-solving-key for the next generation of telecom."

Alex Rogers, President, of Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL) & Global Affairs, Qualcomm said, “5G has driven India's tremendous growth in data consumption, making it the second-largest smartphone market and a significant manufacturing base. As AI advances, we're facing a massive power demand in data centres, projected to consume 50% of their capacity by 2035. The solution lies in shifting AI workloads to edge devices, such as smartphones, PCs, and vehicles, which can handle significant AI tasks independently. Edge AI offers real opportunities for power-efficient computing, enabling us to achieve sustainability and reduce infrastructure burdens."

Vito Di Maria, Vice President, APAC Optical Networks Business Centre, Network Infrastructure Business Group, Nokia said, “We've been hearing about India's journey towards a digitally connected nation. This digitalization is leading to massive data generation. However, geographical challenges, such as laying cables in certain regions, pose obstacles. India is playing a central role in overcoming these challenges. Given the young population and high usage of digital applications, India is a prime target for AI investments. The future of data centres involves distributed investments and dynamic traffic patterns. This shift requires a scalable and simplified approach to connectivity."

A. Gururaj, MD, Optiemus Electronics Ltd. said, “In line with Honorable PM Modi’s thought, devices should be affordable. I believe it is the job of the manufacturer to bring together all available technology and serve them in devices that are affordable for all. From a device manufacturing perspective - the creation of modular smartphones is revolutionary in the telecom world – and the leading company is testing this right now.  All these technologies need a large amount of energy/power, and battery technology needs to evolve at a better pace. Storage of energy is certainly a challenge, but we are working towards curating solutions.”

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