{
  "id": 2485805,
  "title": "India’s transformation in telecom and digital connectivity monumental: Scindia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/indias-transformation-in-telecom-and-digital-connectivity-monumental",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-22T02:48:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-transformation-in-telecom-and-digital-connectivity-monumental-scindia-101787338910462.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Brazil's Minister of Communication Frederico de Siqueira Filho signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Friday during the 12th BRICS Communication Ministers meeting in Pune. The pact aims to bolster collaboration in telecommunications and information and communication technologies (ICTs) to spur digital innovation, fortify digital infrastructure, and explore emerging technologies. Addressing the media, Scindia highlighted India's remarkable progress in the telecom sector over the past decade. Presently, India boasts 1.33 billion mobile subscribers, with internet penetration soaring from 250 million to over a billion users. Broadband penetration has also expanded from 65 million to a billion individuals nationwide, all while costs have plummeted. In 2009, a single voice call cost 50 paise; today, it is just 0.03 paise. A mere 1 GB of data, priced at ₹287 in 2011, now costs under ₹10. India's 5G network rollout commenced in October 2022, marking the swiftest deployment globally. The 5G subscriber base now exceeds 500 million, with the minister projecting it to surpass one billion by 2031. Scindia emphasized that the Prime Minister's vision is for telecom networks and communications to connect people and elevate their lives. Currently, India processes 50% of the world's digital transactions, with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) handling 242 billion digital transactions valued at $3.2 trillion in 2025-26. The ministers outlined eight pillars for future ICT cooperation within BRICS, including universal connectivity, resilient public infrastructure, secure ecosystems, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, innovation startups, and enhanced cooperation among BRICS nations. Scindia, who will preside over BRICS in 2026, expressed India's dedication to the theme of building resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability through the ICT Track's focus on \"Innovate, Cooperate and Transform for a Resilient Future.\"",
  "summary": "Union minister for communications Jyotiraditya Scindia and Brazil’s minister of communication Frederico de Siqueira Filho on Friday signed a MoU to deepen cooperation in telecommunications and information and communications technologies (ICTs) on the sidelines of the12th BRICS Communication Ministers meeting in Pune",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}