Scale, Affordability and Access: India’s Digital Story
Dr. Chandra Sekhar highlighted that India has emerged as one of the world’s most connected societies – powering roughly 1.2 billion telecom subscribers, about 1 billion internet users, and 1.4 billion digital identities through its digital public infrastructure. He presented these numbers as evidence that accessibility and affordability can coexist with massive scale.
The minister pointed to India’s focused investments in last-mile connectivity – including a reported $4.8 billion push for 4G expansion – and one of the world’s fastest 5G rollouts now covering nearly all districts. These milestones, he said, set new benchmarks for bridging the global digital divide.
Cybersecurity as a Shared Global Responsibility
On cybersecurity, Dr. Chandra Sekhar called for resilient, cross-border frameworks and cooperative mechanisms to protect citizens and commerce. He cited India’s citizen-centric safety platforms – including Sanchar Saathi and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator -which the minister said have blocked millions of fraudulent mobile connections and prevented multiple million financial fraud attempts, illustrating the importance of prevention and rapid response in protecting digital users.
From Digital Transactions to Inclusive Growth
The minister argued that India’s low data tariffs and high data consumption demonstrate that policy, competition and infrastructure can expand usage while keeping services affordable. He noted India’s digital systems now enable a substantial share of global digital transactions, reinforcing the country’s role as a partner in building reliable digital ecosystems for both developed and developing nations.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: A Global Call
Invoking the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam -“the world is one family” – Dr. Chandra Sekhar called on ITU members to act together to ensure no country is left behind. He urged collaboration on standards, capacity building, and interoperable systems that preserve both sovereignty and shared security. The minister reaffirmed India’s readiness to partner across the ITU family to co-create solutions for inclusive, resilient digital development.
WTDC-25: Setting Priorities for Global Digital Development
WTDC-25 brings governments, industry and experts together to set global priorities for telecommunications and digital connectivity. Delegates at Baku will seek strategies to expand ICT infrastructure, bridge digital divides, and promote programmes targeted at universal, meaningful, and affordable connectivity – goals that align with India’s message of scale, affordability and cyber resilience.
