Prime Minister Modi opens India Mobile Congress 2026 as 6G and AI take center stage in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the tenth edition of the India Mobile Congress 2026 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, where Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia felicitated him upon his arrival. The four-day technology forum runs from October 7 to October 10, bringing together telecom companies, tech majors, startups, policymakers, and investors. New GSMA research released at the event shows India has around 1.2 billion active mobile connections and nearly 450 million 5G connections.

Key Sessions and Leadership

The IMC Awards program features Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia alongside representatives from the Department of Telecommunications, COAI, Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is listed for a session on digital trust, while MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi delivered a keynote for the Viksit Tech 47 program, which aims to help Indian tech and electronics companies scale into global brands. Other Day One sessions examine AI-native telecom networks with participants including Reliance Jio, Ericsson, TCS, Airtel, and Nokia.

Satcom and Global Expansion

Satellite communications received a major push with an afternoon track covering satcom policy, direct-to-device connectivity, and commercial uses, featuring Airtel, Reliance Jio, Eutelsat OneWeb, Hughes Communications, Qualcomm, C-DOT, and GSMA. Meanwhile, Ericsson announced plans to export India-made antennas to Europe and overseas markets, having produced over 15,000 antennas and 25 million components in India since July 2025 according to Andres Vicente. Starlink Business Operations Vice President Lauren Dreyer stated that Starlink has built 20 gateway sites with hundreds of antennas in India, designed to meet local security requirements and keep user data within the country while awaiting final commercial approvals.

Technology Focus and Innovation

Reliance Jio unveiled Smart Shop at the event, an AI-powered digital retail platform using Haptik Solo to help offline businesses manage social media content and customer engagement. The government has identified nine core focus areas for the forum, including 5G and 6G, next-generation AI networks, semiconductors, non-terrestrial networks, cybersecurity, quantum communication, enterprise transformation, circular economy, and electronics manufacturing, while adding smart mobility, industrial robotics, and transport technology. The flagship ASPIRE program is also putting deep tech and frontier technologies at the center of its startup showcase.

Context

Large technology forums like this bring together government officials, telecom operators, and equipment makers to shape national digital policy and showcase new network infrastructure. As countries transition from 5G toward emerging 6G standards and satellite internet, major economies are increasingly pushing for local manufacturing and strict data security compliance.