India building indigenous AI-native telecom technologies to shape global standards; proposes to host ITU PP-30 conference: DoT

India building indigenous AI-native telecom technologies to shape global standards; proposes to host ITU PP-30 conference: DoT

Artificial intelligence will be the bedrock of future telecom networks, unlocking immersive digital experiences, autonomous systems, and real-time sensing, a senior Department of Telecommunications (DoT) official said, as India steps up efforts to build indigenous AI-powered telecom capabilities.

Speaking at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) Focus Group meeting on Artificial Intelligence Native for Telecommunication Networks (FG-AINN), Sanjeev K Bidwai, Member (Technology), DoT, said institutions like C-DoT, IITs, and top R&D centres are developing AI-native telecom technologies while actively shaping global standards through bodies such as ITU-T, ITU-R, and 3GPP.

"According to ITU-R's vision document M.2160, AI will be a key enabler for future networks, from intelligent radio interface management to cross-domain orchestration and personalised service delivery. AI native networks will manage complexity and unlock new service frontiers, immersive digital experiences, autonomous systems, integrated sensing and on-demand slicing for multi-tasks. This evolution is not just technological, it is strategic," he said.

Bidwai also highlighted India’s competitive advantage in the global AI-native networking race, pointing to its large telecom market and a rapidly growing startup ecosystem.

He said India offers “a rich and diverse testing ground” for AI-native solutions and is supported by a progressive policy environment around AI, data governance, and digital public infrastructure.

"IIT Jodhpur, in partnership with the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), is developing AI frameworks for automated network management for detection and diagnostics,” Bidwai said. “This includes establishing a real-time 5G and beyond testbed compliant with ORAN standards. Further, DoT has signed a letter of intent with ITU to explore AI-driven digital twin technologies for infrastructure planning.”

He added that the DoT is committed to positioning India as a global leader in AI-native networking by fostering innovation and contributing to evaluating and developing intelligent, autonomous telecom networks.

In a video message, Seizo Onoe, Director of the Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau at ITU, stressed the transformative role of AI-native networks in delivering next-gen performance through intelligent automation, self-management, and real-time optimisation.

Atsuo Okuda, ITU Regional Director for Asia-Pacific, said the region is a digital innovation hub and emphasised the need for AI-native networks to build secure, responsive, and inclusive communication systems. She underscored the importance of collaborative frameworks to close the digital divide and support smart applications across cities, healthcare, and education.

At the event, India also sought support from ITU member states for its bid to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2030 (PP-30), for continued membership in the ITU Council (2027–2031), and for Indian nominee M. Revathi to become the first woman and first regional candidate to lead the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau (2027–2030).

Set up by ITU-T Study Group 13 in July 2024, the Focus Group on AI-Native for Telecommunication Networks (FG-AINN) is tasked with identifying the fundamental changes needed in network design and architecture to leverage the power of AI fully.

The group aims to embed AI at the core of telecom networks, enabling them to become self-optimizing, resilient, and highly adaptive. This would result in seamless connectivity, reduced call drops, faster data speeds, and better performance even in remote areas.

By exploring future-ready use cases like connected public services, smart mobility, and disaster-resilient communication, the group is laying the groundwork for telecom networks that are not only technologically advanced but also deeply attuned to public needs.