DoT

Indiaโ€™s nationwide launch of BSNLโ€™s โ€œSwadeshiโ€ 4G stack moves the country from a services-first model to domestic production of core telecom equipment at national scale. India formally launched an indigenous 4G stack for state-run BSNL, alongside more than 97,500 towers announced from Jharsuguda, Odisha. Officials highlighted early reach metrics, noting that roughly 92,000 sites are active and connecting an estimated 22 million users. Telecom equipment sovereignty has become a board-level issue as operators de-risk supply chains, comply with trusted source mandates, and balance costs amid rising traffic and spectrum refarming needs.
Indiaโ€™s Digital Communications Commission has sent most of TRAIโ€™s satellite spectrum recommendations back for review, signaling a tougher stance on pricing, compliance, and market safeguards. TRAI recommended that satellite internet providers pay 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) as spectrum usage charges, an additional Rs 500 per urban subscriber per year, and a minimum annual spectrum fee of Rs 3,500 per MHz when the AGR-linked payout falls short. At its September 16 meeting, the DCCโ€”comprising senior DoT officials and representatives from finance, IT, and NITI Aayogโ€”reviewed the satcom framework and withheld approval on most elements.
India’s AI oversight for telecom is moving from recommendations to implementation, with policy review and technical workstreams running in parallel. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued recommendations on leveraging artificial intelligence and big data in telecom, including the creation of an independent statutory authority for AI governance. The proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority of India (AIDAI) is envisioned to promote responsible AI development and regulate sectoral use cases. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has initiated projects with research bodies and universities focused on how to ensure and test AI trustworthiness.
Tata-owned Nelco has partnered with Eutelsat OneWeb to launch LEO satellite services across India, targeting land, maritime, and aviation sectors. The deal aims to deliver secure, high-speed, low-latency connectivity, support national security, and expand coverage to remote areas. Pending spectrum allocation, Nelco will be ready to offer services once OneWebโ€™s India network goes live.
Indiaโ€™s satellite internet market will focus on enterprise demand over consumer use, according to DoTโ€™s Gulab Chand. With 4G and 5G networks covering most of the country, satellite services are expected to serve sectors like logistics, energy, and mining. Startups and government support are fueling Indiaโ€™s space-tech ecosystem, creating a hybrid terrestrial-satellite network model to power the nationโ€™s digital growth.
Indiaโ€™s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has relaunched its plan to directly allocate spectrum for private 5G networks. The new demand study invites large enterprises and system integrators to signal interest in dedicated spectrum for captive 5G setups. If approved, this policy could enable Indian industries to run secure, high-speed networks without fully relying on telecom operators.
COAI has endorsed MeitY’s move to address spam and scam communication from OTT apps. While telecom operators follow strict UCC rules, OTT platforms remain loosely regulated. COAI is advocating for uniform cybersecurity standards and clear regulatory roles to ensure user safety, particularly with emerging threats like steganography.
AI Pulse: Telecomโ€™s Next Frontier is a definitive guide to how AI is reshaping the telecom landscape โ€” strategically, structurally, and commercially. Spanning over 130 pages, this MWC 2025 special edition explores AIโ€™s growing maturity in telecom, offering a comprehensive look at the technologies and trends driving transformation.

Explore strategic AI pillarsโ€”from AI Ops and Edge AI to LLMs, AI-as-a-Service, and governanceโ€”and learn how telcos are building AI-native architectures and monetization models. Discover insights from 30+ global CxOs, unpacking shifts in leadership thinking around purpose, innovation, and competitive advantage.

The edition also examines connected industries at the intersection of Private 5G, AI, and Satelliteโ€”fueling transformation in smart manufacturing, mobility, fintech, ports, sports, and more. From fan engagement to digital finance, from smart cities to the industrial metaverse, this is the roadmap to telecomโ€™s next eraโ€”where intelligence is the new infrastructure, and telcos become the enablers of everything connected.
In Balancing Innovation and Regulation: Global Perspectives on Telecom Policy, top leaders including Jyotiraditya Scindia (India), Henna Virkkunen (European Commission), and Brendan Carr (U.S. FCC) explore how governments are aligning policy with innovation to future-proof their digital infrastructure. From Indiaโ€™s record-breaking 5G rollout and 6G ambitions, to Europeโ€™s push for AI sovereignty and U.S. leadership in open-market connectivity, this piece outlines how nations can foster growth, security, and inclusion in a hyperconnected world.
Private 5G is poised to transform Indiaโ€™s telecom and industrial landscape, enabling Industry 4.0 through automation, AI, and ultra-reliable connectivity. At the 5GCongress, TRAI chief AK Lahoti and DoTโ€™s Manish Sinha projected โ‚น4 lakh crore revenue for the telecom sector by 2026, highlighting private 5Gโ€™s critical role in enhancing machine-to-machine communication, operational efficiency, and real-time data exchange. Government support through spectrum allocation and Make in India initiatives further boosts industry momentum.
At the ETTelecom 5G Congress 2025, top Indian telecom players shared strategies for 5G growth, AI integration, and future tech like 6G. Bharti Airtel emphasized Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), Jio highlighted AI and its 6G roadmap, while Vodafone Idea focused on delivering high-quality 5G user experiences. With 84% population 5G coverage and India targeting 1 billion users by 2030, the telecom industry is at a pivotal moment.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025, a six-month competition to drive 5G-powered solutions across industries. Open to students, startups, and professionals, the hackathon will focus on AI, IoT, smart cities, and next-gen connectivity innovations. Participants will receive funding, mentorship, and access to 100+ 5G Use Case Labs. Winners will showcase their solutions at India Mobile Congress 2025.

Feature Your Brand with the Winners

In Private Network Magazine Editions

Sponsorship placements open until Oct 31, 2025

TeckNexus Newsletters

I acknowledge and agree to receive TeckNexus communications in line with the T&C and privacy policy.ย 

Whitepaper
Telecom networks are facing unprecedented complexity with 5G, IoT, and cloud services. Traditional service assurance methods are becoming obsolete, making AI-driven, real-time analytics essential for competitive advantage. This independent industry whitepaper explores how DPUs, GPUs, and Generative AI (GenAI) are enabling predictive automation, reducing operational costs, and improving service quality....
Whitepaper
Explore how Generative AI is transforming telecom infrastructure by solving critical industry challenges like massive data management, network optimization, and personalized customer experiences. This whitepaper offers in-depth insights into AI and Gen AI's role in boosting operational efficiency while ensuring security and regulatory compliance. Telecom operators can harness these AI-driven...
Supermicro and Nvidia Logo
Article & Insights
This article explores the deployment of 5G NR Transparent Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), detailing the architecture's advantages and challenges. It highlights how this "bent-pipe" NTN approach integrates ground-based gNodeB components with NGSO satellite constellations to expand global connectivity. Key challenges like moving beam management, interference mitigation, and latency are discussed, underscoring...
Scroll to Top