India's progress in telecom infrastructure was highlighted by Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar. During the 11th BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting held in Brasilia, Brazil, India reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready digital development, according to the Ministry of Communications.
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From Digital Divide to Global Digital Leadership
Chandra Sekhar highlighted India's digital journey celebrating the transition from digital divide to digital leadership. The ambitious Digital Bharat Nidhi programme was showcased as a cornerstone initiative, funding landmark projects such as BharatNet, which now connects over 218,000 village councils with optical fiber infrastructure.
"India's indigenous development and mass deployment of 4G and 5G technologies have enabled near-universal high-speed connectivity, now covering over 95 percent of the population with 4G and more than 80 percent with 5G. The country has also emerged as a global leader in affordable digital access, with the lowest data rates worldwide—just 12 cents per gigabyte," the Minister said at the event.
Digital Public Infrastructure
Delivering India's national statement, Chandra Sekhar presented India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a global benchmark for inclusive and transformative digital governance. He highlighted the pivotal role of flagship initiatives like Aadhaar and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in advancing universal and meaningful connectivity. He noted that Aadhaar has empowered over 950 million citizens with a secure digital identity, enabling seamless access to essential public and private services. UPI, he emphasised, has revolutionised real-time digital payments and now accounts for 46 percent of global digital transactions, according to the Ministry.
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Combatting Telecom Fraud
He also spoke about India's Sanchar Saathi initiative—an effort to combat telecom fraud—and called for enhanced BRICS cooperation in cybersecurity, data protection, and digital trust to ensure the safety and integrity of interconnected digital societies.
Addressing E-Waste
Addressing environmental sustainability, the Minister acknowledged the growing challenges of climate change and e-waste resulting from digital expansion. Citing alarming projections from the Global E-Waste Monitor, he warned of a potential 82 billion kilograms of e-waste by 2030.
"India's model is transformational, rooted in civilizational wisdom and technological innovation. Our approach is not transactional, but inclusive—built on the principles of equity, access, and innovation," he remarked.
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India to Host 12th BRICS Communications
Chandra Sekhar concluded by inviting all BRICS nations to the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting, which will be held in India in 2026.
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