NEW DELHI, Oct 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for greater efforts to make technology affordable, accessible and secure as he met members of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) Board ahead of the India Mobile Congress 2026.
The meeting at Seva Teerth in New Delhi came a day before the 10th edition of India Mobile Congress, which began on Wednesday and will continue until October 10. The discussions covered digital inclusion, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure and the future of mobile connectivity.
Modi emphasised that technology should contribute to inclusive and sustainable development rather than deepen existing inequalities. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that digital services reach people in remote and underserved areas, particularly across countries of the Global South.
The Prime Minister stressed that affordability remains an important factor in expanding access to modern digital services. While smartphones and high-speed networks have become increasingly widespread, differences in connectivity, digital skills and access to reliable services continue to create a digital divide.
The discussion therefore placed last-mile connectivity among the key priorities for future digital development. Greater access to communications infrastructure could allow more people to benefit from online education, digital payments, healthcare services, government programmes and employment opportunities.
Another major subject was India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Modi highlighted its potential to support developing economies and said its growing global relevance could provide a model for other countries seeking to expand digital services at scale.
India’s digital infrastructure has increasingly connected citizens with government and private-sector services through large-scale platforms. The experience has attracted international attention as several developing nations explore ways to build interoperable digital systems.
The meeting also addressed the growing challenge of cyber and digital fraud. As online transactions and communications increase, fraudulent calls, messages and other scams have become a significant concern for consumers and businesses.
Modi suggested using technology itself to combat such threats. He also emphasised the importance of sustained public awareness campaigns so that users can recognise suspicious calls and messages before becoming victims.
The Prime Minister also raised concerns surrounding AI-generated content, particularly deepfakes. Artificial intelligence has made it easier to create realistic images, videos and audio recordings that can be difficult for ordinary users to distinguish from authentic material.
Modi suggested exploring mechanisms through which people could identify the origin of AI-generated content. Such systems could help users assess whether digital material has been produced or altered using artificial intelligence.
The issue has become increasingly important as generative AI tools become more capable and accessible. Deepfakes can potentially be used for fraud, impersonation, misinformation and manipulation, making authentication technologies an important part of the emerging digital ecosystem.
The Prime Minister also called for global standards and common rules covering emerging technologies. The rapid development of artificial intelligence and other digital systems has created regulatory challenges because technologies can operate across national borders while governments continue to follow different legal frameworks.
A coordinated approach could help establish common principles around safety, security, transparency and responsible use while allowing innovation to continue.
GSMA Board members recognised India’s rapid expansion of mobile connectivity and highlighted the country’s progress in 4G and 5G deployment. They also pointed to the scale of India’s digital public infrastructure and the development of its telecom and mobile manufacturing ecosystem.
The organisation’s representatives also identified opportunities for greater international cooperation with India in areas including 5G, 6G, AI, cybersecurity, digital inclusion and satellite connectivity.
The discussions came as India prepared to host the latest edition of India Mobile Congress, one of the country’s largest technology and telecommunications events.
The 2026 edition is focusing heavily on technologies expected to shape the next phase of connectivity. Artificial intelligence, 6G, cybersecurity, satellite communications and the commercial development of 5G are among the major themes being examined at the event.
The telecom industry is increasingly moving towards AI-driven networks capable of automating operations, identifying faults and improving network performance. Such systems could eventually allow communications infrastructure to respond more dynamically to changing traffic and service requirements.
The transition towards 6G is also expected to involve much closer integration between communication networks, artificial intelligence, computing and sensing technologies. Although widespread commercial 6G deployment remains some years away, governments and companies are already working on standards and research programmes.
India has been seeking a greater role in this process. Participation in international standards development could influence how future networks are designed and help domestic companies compete in the global technology market.
Satellite connectivity was another area identified for cooperation. Non-terrestrial networks could complement conventional mobile infrastructure by providing connectivity in difficult-to-reach locations and supporting communication during emergencies or natural disasters.
The combination of terrestrial and satellite networks could become increasingly important as demand for uninterrupted connectivity grows.
Cybersecurity is likely to remain a major concern throughout this transition. More connected devices and increasingly automated systems also create additional points that could potentially be targeted by attackers.
The growth of AI adds another layer to the security challenge. The same technology that can help organisations identify suspicious behaviour can also be used to automate or improve cyberattacks.
This makes secure digital infrastructure essential as countries expand their reliance on connected systems.
The discussions between Modi and GSMA representatives therefore covered both the opportunities and risks associated with rapid technological development. India is seeking to expand access to digital services while simultaneously strengthening safeguards around emerging technologies.
For consumers, the developments could eventually translate into wider connectivity, more advanced mobile services and stronger protection against online fraud. For businesses, the expansion of AI, 5G and future 6G infrastructure could open new opportunities across telecommunications, manufacturing, financial services and other sectors.
The meeting also highlighted India’s growing engagement with international technology organisations. Cooperation with global industry bodies could help the country participate more actively in discussions about standards, cybersecurity and the responsible development of emerging technologies.
As the India Mobile Congress gets underway, the focus is expected to remain on how technology can be used not only to increase connectivity but also to make digital systems more accessible, trusted and secure.
The broader challenge will be to ensure that the benefits of AI and next-generation communications reach a wider population without allowing new technologies to create additional security and social risks.