THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 17, 2026
India’s telecom ecosystem is rapidly aligning with artificial
intelligence-driven transformation, with the Department of Telecommunications
(DoT), the Software Technology Parks of India and the Cellular Operators
Association of India (COAI) jointly showcasing the country’s AI-ready digital
infrastructure at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The high-level
sessions underscored how AI is set to redefine network architecture, service
delivery and digital inclusion, positioning telecom as the backbone of India’s
emerging AI economy.
Curated by Anil Bhardwaj, DDG (SE), DoT, the first session on “Gen AI and
Future Networks” brought together top technology leaders from Reliance Jio,
Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea along with policymakers and global industry
representatives. The deliberations highlighted that predictive maintenance,
intelligent spectrum allocation, energy-efficient operations and AI-native
network design are transforming telecom networks into adaptive, self-optimising
platforms capable of supporting massive AI workloads. Speakers emphasised that
the traditional boundaries between data centres, cloud infrastructure and
access networks are dissolving, enabling compute-on-demand and real-time
resource orchestration to support ultra-low latency applications such as
augmented and virtual reality.
Industry leaders noted that future networks will deliver on-demand speed
and near-instant connectivity, allowing telecom systems to dynamically allocate
computing power based on live traffic and service requirements. This
convergence of cloud and connectivity is expected to unlock new enterprise use
cases while improving consumer experience through seamless, high-quality
digital services.
The second session, “AI Powered Bharat through Universal Digital
Connectivity,” featured a keynote address by Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani,
Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, who stressed that
AI-enabled connectivity must reach the last mile to achieve meaningful digital
inclusion. The panel, comprising senior executives from BSNL, Reliance Jio,
Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, COAI and GSMA along with DoT officials, examined
how AI can strengthen network capacity, enhance service quality and combat
telecom fraud.
Discussions underscored that universal connectivity is not merely about
network coverage but about assured quality of service, secure communication and
real-time access to digital content for every citizen. Stakeholders highlighted
citizen-centric initiatives such as Sanchar Saathi and fraud risk intelligence
frameworks as examples of how AI is being deployed to improve digital safety
and trust.
The Minister also visited exhibition stalls at Bharat Mandapam, interacting with global technology firms and innovators, and held a brief meeting with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, appreciating the Ministry of Electronics and IT for organising the summit. A senior DoT delegation led by Secretary Amit Agrawal, along with top officials from the Digital Communications Commission, Digital Bharat Nidhi and C-DOT, toured the AI Expo to identify telecom-relevant innovations for potential deployment.
The DoT’s active engagement at the summit signals a policy and industry convergence aimed at building an AI-native telecom backbone for the country. By integrating intelligent networks, secure digital infrastructure and last-mile connectivity, the government and industry are positioning telecom as a critical enabler of AI-led economic growth and nationwide digital empowerment.
