Telecom networks are foundation of India’s AI revolution, says MoS Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar

India today has over 1.2 billion telecom subscribers, with networks carrying massive volumes of data annually.

• India's telecom networks drive the nation's AI ecosystem growth
• 1.2B subscribers, 24GB monthly data per user
• AI aids telecom operations, fraud prevention, and energy savings

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India’s telecom networks form the foundational layer of the country’s fast-expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem, Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said, asserting that connectivity is no longer a luxury but a national necessity.

“When historians write about India’s 21st-century transformation, they will not begin with silicon chips or lines of software code. They will begin with the moment India made a fundamental choice — that connectivity is not a luxury, but a necessity,” Sekhar said in a keynote address.

India today has over 1.2 billion telecom subscribers, with networks carrying massive volumes of data annually. Average mobile data consumption has crossed 24 GB per user per month — among the highest globally — reflecting both digital readiness and demand for AI-driven services.

The minister said AI is already being deployed at scale within telecom operations — from predictive maintenance that reduces network downtime to dynamic spectrum optimisation and AI-powered energy management systems that can cut energy consumption by up to 30%.

However, he cautioned that without affordable and reliable connectivity, AI would remain confined to data centres and research laboratories. Over the past five years, India has fibreised more than 70% of its telecom towers, while optical fibre deployment has crossed 42 lakh route kilometres to support high-capacity backhaul for next-generation services.

Broadband subscribers have surged from about 60 million in 2014 to over 900 million today — a more than 1,500% increase in just over a decade. Teledensity now exceeds 85%, bringing near-universal coverage across the country.

Going forward, the focus will shift from coverage to capacity. The next phase includes high-speed fibre backhaul supporting gigabit-level speeds, low-latency edge computing infrastructure for real-time AI applications, and affordable access to empower startups from day one.

India’s AI strategy, Sekhar said, is anchored in affordability and skill development. Data tariffs have fallen by nearly 95% since 2014, democratising digital access for 1.4 billion people. The government is also strengthening network security frameworks and embedding responsible AI practices across digital systems.

India’s Digital Intelligence Platform now links over 400 organisations in real time to combat fraud. Authorities have disconnected more than 8.6 million fraudulent mobile connections and prevented thousands of crores in suspected financial fraud transactions in recent months.

“Telecom is no longer just about connecting calls. It is about connecting opportunities,” Sekhar said, adding that India is ready to partner globally on AI standards, innovation, and responsible deployment as it transitions from digital Bharat to intelligent Bharat.