As the world prepares to honor World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, India proudly recognizes its exceptional digital journey, empowering its citizens and assuming a leadership role globally.
India’s telecommunications landscape has witnessed remarkable transformations, ushering in a new era of growth and innovation. Driven by unprecedented data consumption, a burgeoning user base, and supportive policies, India continues to foster industry expansion and entrepreneurial creativity. With a 99% 4G coverage footprint, encompassing over 600,000 villages and around 442,000 5G BTS installations, India stands at the forefront of connectivity.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has embarked on forging strategic international alliances and partnerships, cultivating a world-class telecommunications ecosystem, and positioning India as a leader in digital innovation and infrastructure. Telecom Diplomacy has been instrumental in attracting new business ventures, cultivating alliances with global leaders, nurturing domestic startups, and reinforcing India’s commitment to driving innovation and securing its position in the global telecommunications landscape. The outcomes of telecom diplomacy initiatives are increasingly evident, showcasing promising developments.
Strategic Collaborations with Partner Nations and Telecom Chip Companies:
India has engaged in robust collaborations with partner nations, telecom chip companies, and technology giants to foster strategic alliances. Notable initiatives include the formalization of the ‘US-India OpenRAN Acceleration Roadmap’ during visits to the USA in September 2023 and January 2024, aimed at promoting Open RAN adoption and enhancing mutual trust among trusted suppliers. Discussions on mutual recognition of security frameworks to facilitate business and boost user confidence have made significant progress. Partnerships with tech giants such as Qualcomm have resulted in finalizing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) facilitating access to chips for startups through C-DOT. Similar endeavors with Intel and AMD are poised to provide mentorship to Indian startups. Additionally, support for establishing 100 5G labs for developing use cases was secured during visits to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona in February 2024 and the USA.
Exchange of Best Practices:
Collaborative efforts with the FCC and NSF of the USA have enabled India to initiate dialogues on international best practices in spectrum allocation, quality of service assurance, and futuristic technological research. The NSF’s RINGS program, aimed at enhancing effective collaboration among industry, academia, and Government R&D, serves as a model for similar discussions with Indian industry stakeholders. The response to these initiatives has been overwhelmingly positive.
Exploring New Frontiers:
India has showcased cutting-edge solutions developed by CDoT, notably the Cell broadcast and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solutions, to the World Bank and Mauritius, signaling the potential for deployment in other nations. Success at the World Radio Conference in Dubai in December 2023 led to securing benefits for India’s telecom and space sectors through pivotal decisions, including the utilization of 6 GHz mid-band spectrum for IMT after 2027, safeguarding India’s NAVIC-GPS system, and ensuring the protection of Indian defense operations from neighboring countries’ IMT deployments in sea and air zones. Furthermore, permissions for inflight internet connectivity in new high-frequency bands have been granted to India, promising enhanced user experiences.
Boosting Telecom Exports:
India has made significant strides in bridging the gap between imports and exports in recent years, with the majority of 5G demands being met by domestically manufactured products. Indian companies exported telecom equipment and accessories worth Rs 25,200 crores last year. The DoT has undertaken concerted efforts to showcase domestic products by Indian companies in foreign forums, paving the way for expanded exports. Several domestic firms, including Tejas Networks, Lekha Wireless, VVDN, Astrome, WiSig, and Signalchip, have participated in various international delegations, securing new deals and expanding their presence in Western nations, particularly the USA.
Securing Indian Interests and Leadership Positions:
India’s active participation at international forums, such as the World Radio Conference, has been instrumental in safeguarding spectrum for Indian operations and bolstering future 5G deployments. The election of the Secretary (T) as co-chair of the ITU Digital Innovation Board in March 2024 has further elevated India’s role in shaping global digital innovation. Collaboration with partner nations and international bodies such as ITU and APT remains pivotal for India’s telecom growth, facilitating access to technology, patents, and contributions to global standards.
Transforming India Mobile Congress (IMC):
Extensive efforts have been undertaken to elevate IMC into a global event akin to the Mobile World Congress by 2025, with collaborations with PAN IIT USA, GSMA, IEEE, and INSA aimed at broadening its scope and appeal.
Leveraging Specialized Expertise:
Initiatives such as the memorandum of understanding with PANIIT and the launch of the Future Tech Expert Portal have facilitated engagements with telecom experts from IITs and beyond, fostering mentorship and knowledge exchange to propel India’s telecom projects.
Academic and Research Collaborations:
Exploratory collaborations with institutions such as the University of Chicago in Quantum Networks and Quantum Teleportation aim to bolster R&D efforts, spur innovation, and fortify the startup ecosystem in Quantum Communications within India, with discussions underway for a quantum teleportation link between the USA and India.
These concerted outreach efforts have propelled India into a leadership position in international forums, bolstered exports, fostered alliances with advanced nations, facilitated knowledge transfer, and reinforced India’s standing as a trusted partner in global telecommunications.
