New Delhi: Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia emphasised on Wednesday that connectivity must become universally affordable if it is to be truly transformative.
Scindia commented while delivering the closing keynote address at the Ministerial Stage during the session titled “Breaking the Cost Barrier” at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain.
He led India’s engagements at the GSMA Ministerial Programme and the MWC Main Stage, outlining India’s vision for affordable, inclusive, and future-ready digital connectivity, according to an official statement.
Scindia stressed the need to bridge the digital usage gap and make connectivity affordable for all. The minister said device and service affordability remained central to digital inclusion. He noted that billions of people still faced barriers to accessing the digital economy due to high costs.
The minister further said that the challenge was not the absence of technology but the cost barriers that prevent billions from participating in the digital economy.
He highlighted India’s experience in lowering data costs through policy reforms, competition, and large-scale adoption. Scindia said India’s digital journey shows that scale, innovation, and stable policy frameworks can dramatically reduce costs.
He added that the collective responsibility of nations is to ensure that next-generation connectivity, from 5G to emerging 6G ecosystems, remains affordable, inclusive, and scalable.
The minister also called for coordinated action by governments, industry, financial institutions, and global organisations to promote device affordability, innovative financing, and sustainable digital ecosystems.
Later in the day, Scindia addressed the main stage at Mobile World Congress 2026 in a keynote session titled “Built for What’s Next.”
He spoke about the transformation of telecom networks into intelligent and adaptive platforms powered by artificial intelligence and cloud-native technologies. Scindia said the world is moving into an era where networks are becoming intelligent, autonomous, and anticipatory.
He added that AI-driven systems, cloud-native architectures, and secure digital ecosystems are redefining how citizens experience connectivity and how enterprises innovate.
He further said the future of connectivity lies not only in faster speeds but also in resilient infrastructure and seamless digital experiences. According to him, technology must empower individuals, strengthen businesses, and enable societies to thrive.
The address reaffirmed India’s commitment to building a secure and globally competitive digital infrastructure.
