Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that mobile data in India has become cheaper than a cup of tea while inaugurating the ninth edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi on Wednesday, October 8.
“India ranks among the leading nations in per-user data consumption. India’s user data cost is now lower than the price of a cup of tea,” said PM Modi during his address.
Highlighting the country’s growth in the mobile and electronics manufacturing sector, the Prime Minister said that mobile manufacturing in India has increased 28 times, while exports have risen 127 times. He added that over the past decade, the sector has created millions of direct jobs and strengthened India’s position as a global manufacturing hub.
PM Modi stated that India’s electronics production has grown six times since 2014. Referring to Apple’s expanding supply chain in India, he said that a globally renowned company’s ecosystem now includes 45 local partners and has created more than 3.5 lakh jobs. Apple has local partners such as Dixon, Amber, HCL Tech, Wipro, and Motherson Group for component supply.
He emphasised that many companies are manufacturing at scale across the country and that indirect employment opportunities make the overall impact even greater.
PM Modi said that India is currently working on 10 semiconductor manufacturing units and urged companies to focus on developing chipsets and mobile components. He described the global supply chain bottleneck as an opportunity for India to scale up its capabilities.
Calling this the “best time to invest, innovate and make in India,” PM Modi highlighted that the indigenously developed 4G stack is now ready for export, making India one of only five countries with such technology. He added that India’s 4G and 5G stacks will ensure high-speed internet, reliable services, and help achieve the country’s 6G vision by 2030.
The Prime Minister noted that India has become the world’s second-largest 5G market, with 5G coverage now reaching almost every district that once struggled with 2G.
He also addressed cybersecurity, stating that stricter laws and better accountability have improved protection against cyber frauds, benefiting both industries and consumers.
Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia added that India’s mobile data costs have dropped by 98% in the past 11 years, from ₹287 per GB in 2014 to ₹9.11 today. “There was a time when a single minute of voice was a luxury. Today, India is home to 20% of the world’s mobile population with 1.2 billion subscribers,” he said.
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