The International Telecommunications Union – World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (ITU-WTSA 2024) has concluded. India has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of global telecommunications. Through its proactive engagement, India has successfully proposed groundbreaking Resolutions and contributed to the modification of existing ones, receiving widespread endorsement from member nations.
The event concluded with a closing ceremony, attended by Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, secretary-general, ITU, Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr Neeraj Mittal, secretary (T), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Seizo Onoe TSB director, ITU, R R Mittar, chair, WTSA-24 and Bilel Jamoussi, secretary, WTSA-24.
During his address, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, said, “This WTSA-24 gathering has proven that when we collaborate with a common purpose, technology becomes a beacon of equity and progress. The path ahead is filled with challenges, yet it offers ample opportunities to harness technology as a catalyst for positive change. India is ready to play its part in this shared journey and we will champion international collaboration and actively contribute to the development of global standards.”
Meanwhile, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, said, “Let us keep the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words in mind as we transform WTSA outcomes into action. By keeping ‘the principles of security, dignity and equity at the centre of our efforts.’ Let us continue this journey towards one shared digital future. One that is technically strong and built on a solid foundation of standards. One that is ethically sound, with innovation and inclusion at its very core.”
Further, Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, said, “Under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister , India has showcased its commitment to global leadership through strategic partnerships, groundbreaking research, and innovation-driven development, reaffirming its position at the forefront of the digital revolution”.
Key proposals by India include:
- A new resolution on enhancing the standardisation activities on digital public infrastructure
- A new resolution on standardisation activities of the ITU telecommunication standardisation sector on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in support of telecommunications/ information and communication technology (ICT),
Other new ITU-T resolutions supported by India include:
- Enhancing the standardisation activities on sustainable digital transformation
- Promoting and strengthening metaverse standardisation
- Promoting and strengthening standardisation activities for vehicular communications
- Strategic planning in ITU telecommunication standardisation sector
- Provision of handset-derived caller location information for emergency communications
- Enhancing the engagement of next generation experts in ITU-T standardisation activities.
These initiatives not only bolster India’s role as leader in the areas of telecommunication/ICT, but also align seamlessly with the Prime Minister’s vision for a robust digital public infrastructure, as articulated during India’s G-20 presidency. His emphasis on creating a global framework for digital technology underscores the importance of these resolutions for global governance. These resolutions are also aligned with PM Modi’s four pillars of digital India – low-priced devices, extensive reach of digital connectivity to every nook and corner of the country, easily accessible data and goal of ‘Digital First’.
Additionally, India has also contributed significantly to the revision of approximately 25 existing resolutions. Notable approvals and consensus reached include collaboration with ISO/IEC, telecom numbering management, cybersecurity, telecommunication/ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities, and ICT and environment/climate change. This progress reflects a collaborative spirit, with many resolutions achieving consensus without changes, reinforcing a unified approach to global standards.
India’s active participation has not only highlighted its leadership in telecommunications but has also garnered support from numerous countries, including the USA, UK, Brazil, China, Japan, and Australia. India’s chairmanship of the event also saw many long discussed structural reforms carried out successfully, like creating a new study group based on merger of SG9 and SG16, having not more than one chair from one country and finalisation of leadership positions despite lot of divergent views.
WTSA 24 featured eight new resolutions and 44 modified resolutions were taken up. This 10-day event witnessed record-breaking milestones establishing India as a substantial player in the telecommunications industry.
