Transforming Connectivity: Views of telecom leaders at IMC 2024

At the inaugural session of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, the leaders of three private telcos shared their views on the evolving digital infrastructure landscape and expanding 5G ecosystem. Akash Ambani, chairman, Reliance Jio; Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman, Bharti Enterprises Limited; and Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman, Aditya Birla Group, reflected on India’s remarkable telecom growth journey, advancements in telecom infrastructure and new digital trends that will shape the sector. Key highlights from their addresses…

Akash Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio Infocomm

The world is in awe that a nation crawling at 2G speed only eight years ago is now a digital superpower galloping down the 5G highway. India will do even better with 6G. From being ranked 155th in mobile broadband adoption, we have risen to become the world’s largest data market. Once a nation where the number of unicorns could be counted on the fingers of a single hand, we have emerged as the third-largest unicorn hub in the world. UPI has become the world’s No. 1 digital payment system.

Today, India stands as the only large country in the world offering one of the lowest mobile data prices while providing one of the fastest internet speeds. Our per capita data consumption of over 30 GB is one of the highest in the world, but that is only half the picture. The other half shows that India’s story of digital transformation is a testament to inclusivity. Its digital revolution has spread to the most remote corners of the nation. Over 530 million unbanked Indians have been brought into the financial system through Jan Dhan (Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana) accounts. To put things in perspective, 530 million is more than the combined population of the US, the UK, France and Canada. What is even more heartening is that over 300 million of these account holders are women. I feel both proud and humbled that Jio has played a significant part in this remarkable transformation.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a revolutionary tool, one of the most transformative inventions of the human mind. It will disruptively transform every aspect of our lives, every facet of our society and every sector of our economy, ushering in an era of unimaginable abundance and efficiency. With AI, India has the potential to completely transform key sectors such as – the manufacturing sector, positioning the country as a new-age factory and services centre for the world; the agriculture sector, enabling farmers to become prosperous by growing more with less water; the health sector, making quality healthcare accessible to all; and the education sector, providing every Indian student with the best learning opportunities.

AI is critical for realising the country’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Therefore, India should urgently embrace AI with a holistic strategy driven by maximum “atmanirbhar” efforts. At Jio, we have begun our efforts to bring the benefits of AI to every Indian, everywhere, just as we did with mobile broadband. We are committed to democratising AI, offering powerful AI models and services to everyone at affordable prices. To this end, we are laying the groundwork for a national AI infrastructure.

The scale and speed of multi lingual data generation, which will drive the AI revolution, will grow exponentially. We urge the government to expedite the updating of the 2020 draft of the Data Centre Policy. Indian data should remain in Indian data centres. Therefore, Indian companies looking to set up AI and machine learning data centres should receive all necessary incentives, including support for power consumption.

Indian mobile companies, along with the thriving ecosystem, are well positioned to offer solutions to the rest of the world, including developed countries. To become a global leader in AI, India must accelerate talent generation on a scale to meet the growing demand. Existing jobs will evolve, and many new exciting opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship will emerge rapidly, similar to the change brought about by the adoption of computers and the internet.

In conclusion, it is our promise that not only will India lead the charge in mobile innovation, but we will also fully embrace the power of AI to create a connected, intelligent future that is truly transformative for every Indian.

Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group

India’s telecom sector has made remarkable progress in delivering connectivity and the benefits of digital transformation to Indian citizens. At the heart of this steadfast progress lies the support of the government, which has consistently recognised the importance of digital connectivity, introducing several reforms over the years to drive us towards an even more connected, empowered and inclusive digital nation. The government has given continued thrust on expanding digital infrastructure and accelerating digital adoption for people and businesses equally. As a result, digital transformation is extending beyond large businesses to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), enabling them to break traditional barriers and enter new markets. A few years ago, the Prime Minister had articulated that MSMEs stand for maximum support to micro small and medium enterprises. At Vi, we are committed to providing maximum support by promoting digital transformation of India’s small businesses with a focus on technologies such as 5G, internet of things, AI and cloud services. Our Vi Business “Ready for Next” programme helps MSMEs assess their digital readiness, identify areas for improvement and adopt necessary digital solutions to become future-ready corporations. Since its launch in June 2022, over 106,000 MSMEs have used the Vi platform. Through the power of our telecom platforms, I believe that we can create a thriving digital ecosystem that empowers our MSMEs to drive India’s economic growth.

Robust connectivity is also transforming the way we live and work, as demonstrated by solutions that VI showcased at IMC this year. High speed networks are making telemedicine possible, allowing medical professionals to diagnose and treat patients in remote locations virtually, bridging the gap between urban and rural healthcare. Just last year, India achieved the remarkable feat of 100 million teleconsultations. Real-time high speed connectivity will also enhance safety and efficiencies in critical industries such as mining, construction and industrial automation – advancements that were unimaginable some years ago. It is remarkable how far we have come in connecting people, machines and devices with such efficiency. Today, we are building a future where virtual and augmented reality immersive experiences are increasingly integrated into our daily lives.

One of the most pressing issues being addressed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and industry in the past year is spam control and fraud protection. As networks have grown, there is an increased potential risk to the public, especially from phishing schemes, fraudulent calls and spam messages. These undermine public confidence in communication systems and put people’s personal and financial security at risk. In collaboration with the government and regulatory bodies, Vi is making significant strides in combating this menace. We are committed to bringing new and innovative solutions that will fundamentally address spam and fraud at the very core. Public awareness campaigns are also helping educate users on identifying and avoiding spam.

This year has been an important one for Vi as the company has made critical steps in its transformation journey. The company’s Rs 180 billion follow-on public offering, the largest of its kind in India, was met with overwhelming enthusiasm. It was over subscribed seven times overall and an astonishing 19 times amongst institutional investors. The surge in demand resulted in total bids of approximately Rs 935 billion across various investor categories. This response was an emphatic endorsement of the potential of the Indian telecom sector. The fundraising has enabled the company to kick-start its capex cycle. Vi has already announced the next phase of its capex, worth $3.6 billion, with three global partners – Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung. These are all key steps that place Vi on a more secure footing and ensure that the company remains dynamic and competitive.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises

IMC 2024 is a showcase of India’s remarkable a dvancements in telecom infrastructure and digital technologies. At the heart of this progress is the government’s Digital India vision, a transformative initiative that has sparked immense growth across the telecom and digital services sectors. This vision has been a major driver of the 4G revolution, which brought smartphones into the hands of not only urban people but also those in rural and underdeveloped regions of the country. This wave of digital connectivity led to the rise of numerous start-ups, many of which have turned into unicorns, attracting billions of dollars in global investment and putting India on the global map as a technology powerhouse.

India lost ground in manufacturing to countries such as China over the past 20-30 years. By 2019, the government recognised the nation’s heavy reliance on imported telecom and digital equipment, valued at nearly $500 billion annually. In response, the government encouraged Indian entrepreneurs and global corporations to establish manufacturing facilities in India. This call to action has transformed the country into a major manufacturing hub, where the innovative spirit of Indian entrepreneurs and global corporations thrives under the support of the production-linked incentive scheme.

Today, every element entering India’s telecom ecosystem undergoes the meticulous scrutiny of the National Security Committee on Telecom. Every source, product and component that forms India’s network is rigorously tested to ensure it meets the stringent standards of trusted networks and trusted products. This is a significant development that sets a precedent for other countries to adopt.

Another key area of progress has been India’s rapid deployment of 5G networks. The government swiftly took action by instructing the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Indian telecom operators to expedite the launch of 5G services. Today, India boasts one of the fastest 5G network roll-outs in the world, with coverage extending not only to urban areas but also to villages and rural regions. Over the next 12 to 18 months, the government plans to connect every part of the country to a robust 5G network, ensuring that all citizens benefit from the high speed internet and advanced connectivity that 5G provides.

India’s ambitions, however, are not limited to 5G alone. The country has now set its sights on becoming a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing. Recognising the importance of semiconductors in today’s digital economy, the government has launched several initiatives aimed at kick-starting semiconductor production within the country. India has also forged strategic alliances with key global players in this field, including the US, France, the UK, Japan and Taiwan.

Another significant development in this new term is the opening of the space sector. Previously, satellite-based communications were limited to slow, outdated technologies such as 2G very small aperture terminals (VSATs). However, with the introduction of low-earth orbit networks, India now has the opportunity to deliver 4G-level speeds and massive data capacity to even the most remote regions of the country. This development is particularly important for the 5 per cent of India’s population that resides in remote areas, such as mountains, forests and deep rural regions, where traditional telecom networks have struggled to provide service. With the launch of satellite communication (satcom) services, anyone, regardless of their location, will be able to access high speed internet, enabling voice, data and video services that are on par with 4G and 5G networks.

As satcom services gain momentum, a global debate is emerging about how satellite technologies will coexist with terrestrial networks. Satellite technology is advancing rapidly, and inter-temporal choices will need to be made to ensure that these two types of networks can complement each other effectively. My message to the global telecom community is clear – telecom companies have done incredible work in connecting the world, and they will play a crucial role in extending satellite services to remote regions. Programmes such as the Universal Service Obligation Fund are already helping bridge the digital divide. However, satellite companies aiming to serve urban, elite customers must operate under the same regulatory framework as telecom operators. They should acquire telecom licences, purchase spectrum, pay licensing fees and adhere to the same security standards as telecom companies. This is a straightforward solution that can be implemented on a global scale, and

India can once again lead the way in setting these standards.

Lastly, Bharti Airtel has been at the forefront of India’s telecom revolution. Airtel continues to be a responsible company, not only building advanced networks but also safeguarding its customers and stakeholders. Notably, it also launched India’s first anti-spam network, blocking billions of spam calls and messages to protect users.

Moving forward, Airtel is working closely with the industry and DoT to ensure that the networks being built are safe and secure as customers enjoy the wide array of services enabled by this digital revolution.