The Fifth Global Standards Symposium (GSS 24) was inaugurated by Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event was organised by International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which brought together about 1,500 leading policymakers and experts including ministers from across the globe to discuss the future of digital transformation and the critical role of international standards in enabling the next wave of emerging technologies. GSS 24 has set the agenda for World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) 2024, which is being hosted for the first time in India and a first for all of Asia-Pacific.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Scindia, said, “Innovation with thrive not in isolation but in harmony.” He also spoke about India’s success with new technology as it rolled out 5G across 36 states and union territories within a span of just 22 months, covering 98 per cent of all the districts and its Global Stack – Unified Payment Interface, Aadhar card system and Digi locker which stores about 6.75 billion documents serving 300 million users. He also mentioned that the roll out of 5G is expected to inject 450 billion dollars into the economy by 2040. He further added, “This historic gathering signifies a pivotal moment for India. We will be driving the future of global standards, ensuring connectivity for all and showcasing our tech prowess.”
On the subject of challenges posed by new age-technologies, Scindia highlighted, “For artificial intelligence (AI) to serve as a force for good, we must address concerns related to privacy, bias, and transparency. Its deployment must be guided by ethical considerations and robust regulatory frameworks.”
Meanwhile, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, secretary general, ITU, said, “At the highest levels of global governance, standards are top of mind. They are more than mere technical specifications, they foster interoperability, promise innovation, and crucially, can serve as safeguards, ensuring that technology, including AI, is developed and deployed responsibly.”
Further, Dr Neeraj Mittal, secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), highlighted the symposium’s significance in shaping the future of telecommunications. He also emphasised on India’s commitment to leading the standardisation path forward, focusing on interoperability, scalability, and security. He stated, “The work we do here will decide the future of telecom.”
Furthermore, Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay, chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman, Project Board, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) chaired the event. He emphasised on the critical role of these’s discussions in shaping tomorrow’s technological landscape, stating, “What we make today will define how AI serves our humanity. Our discussions are more than just conversations; they are building blocks of our shared digital future.”
