Shri R. N. Palai, Member (Technology), Digital Communications Commission (DCC) and ex-officio Secretary, DoT, highlighted the strategic importance of circularity in telecom. While the sector contributes less than two percent of India’s greenhouse gas emissions, its extensive reach to nearly 1.2 billion users positions it as a key enabler for climate action. Shri Palai emphasised that sustainability should extend beyond energy efficiency to encompass the entire lifecycle of telecom products and infrastructure, including e-waste management, right-to-repair, and sustainable design.
UNDP Support and Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
Dr. Angela Lusigi, UNDP Resident Representative, stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration to advance circular economy transitions in telecom. She encouraged participants to develop a time-bound roadmap supported by policy frameworks, industry commitments, investments in innovation, and robust monitoring mechanisms. UNDP is actively assisting DoT in preparing a comprehensive Circular Economy Action Plan for the sector.
Technical Deliberations and Panel Discussions
The workshop featured presentations on sustainable design, lifecycle management, e-waste reduction, digital tracking systems, and resilient supply chains. Panel discussions addressed rethinking the telecom supply chain, government initiatives, value-chain optimization, and design for circularity. Another session explored digital tools, including blockchain, AI, IoT, and analytics to enhance transparency, material recovery, and circular practices in telecom operations.
Path Forward: From Dialogue to Implementation
Participants agreed that India’s telecom sector must move from discussion to action. Circularity requires coordinated ecosystem-level interventions, scalable business models, and shared ownership, where government provides policy direction, industry drives adoption, and partners support implementation, capacity building, and financing. The workshop concluded with a commitment from DoT, UNDP, and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and accelerate sustainable, circular, and resilient growth in India’s telecom sector.