Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed the need to use technology as a means of promoting inclusive and sustainable development. He made the remarks while interacting with members of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association Board at Seva Teerth yesterday, ahead of the India Mobile Congress.
The India Mobile Congress is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from the 7th to the 10th of this month. During the interaction, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of making technology accessible to every section of society. He said the democratisation of technology is necessary to ensure that no group is left behind.
Mr Modi also called for technology and digital services to be made affordable and easily accessible, particularly across the Global South. He stressed the importance of taking digital services to the last mile so that the digital divide does not become wider.
The Prime Minister highlighted the potential of Digital Public Infrastructure as an important tool for developing countries. He said his discussions on DPI with several world leaders have shown its increasing global relevance. He also noted that such platforms can provide a strong foundation for countries in the Global South.
Discussing the rising problem of digital and cyber fraud, Mr Modi said technology based solutions are needed to address the challenge. He suggested maintaining regular awareness messages for users to alert them about possible fraudulent calls.
The Prime Minister also emphasised the need for global standards and common rules for emerging technologies. Referring to the increasing use of deepfakes and AI generated content, he suggested exploring ways through which users can quickly identify the origin of such content.
The Global System for Mobile Communications Association is an international organisation that brings together the mobile ecosystem, including mobile operators and organisations from related sectors.
Members of the GSMA Board highlighted India’s growing position in digital and mobile connectivity. They pointed to the rapid expansion of 4G and 5G networks, the scale of digital public infrastructure and the development of India’s telecom and mobile manufacturing ecosystem.
The board members also highlighted India’s investment friendly policy framework and stressed the importance of secure, resilient and trusted digital infrastructure for continued digital growth.
The meeting was attended by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State for Communications Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, members of the GSMA Board and senior government officials.