Neeraj Mittal, secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) met Ann Neuberger, deputy national security advisor (NSA) of the US, to formalise and release the US-India open radio access network (RAN) acceleration roadmap. The agreement promotes collaboration for interoperability and scaled deployments of open RAN products. The two parties concurred on joint efforts in next-generation communication technologies, marking a significant stride towards global technological advancement.
The meeting was part of Mittal’s recent visit to the US to address critical aspects of India’s technological prowess and global collaboration. During this visit, Mittal delivered a keynote on ‘Technology Diplomacy: Navigating the Geopolitical Landscape’ at the PanIIT 2024 event in Washington DC. Emphasising India’s digital transformation, he underscored the importance of tech diplomacy for diversifying the supply chain, crucial for the growth of the ICT sector. A joint work plan was inked with PanIIT US, fostering expertise exchange for Indian research projects and guiding start-ups towards the vision of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Further, the secretary visited the University of Chicago in a strategic move to bolster India’s self-reliance in quantum communications. Engaging in deep-diving sessions and touring quantum communication labs, he explored potential collaborations in quantum networks and quantum teleportation. This initiative aims to elevate research and development, foster innovation, and fortify the startup ecosystem in quantum communications within India.
At the World Bank, Mittal met Axel van Trotsenburg, senior managing director; Martin Raiser, vice president, South Asia; Guangzhe Chen, vice president, infrastructure; and Qimiao Fan, director, strategy and operations, of the World Bank. Discussions revolved around India’s initiatives in digital public infrastructure, cell broadcast technology, and the promotion of the start-up ecosystem. The World Bank was invited to join the ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good’ effort of the International Telecommunications Union and the United Nations, with a specific focus on the South Asian and African regions.
