Telecom backbone ready for AI surge, India actively shaping 6G standards: MoS Pemmasani

MoS Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar (Courtesy: X | @PemmasaniOnX)

India’s telecom infrastructure is being positioned to shoulder the rising demands of artificial intelligence workloads, with universal connectivity, fibre expansion and next-generation wireless technologies forming the backbone of the country’s AI ambitions, Union Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar told Moneycontrol.

Sekhar said that the key to enabling AI at scale lies in universal and reliable connectivity. As India expands high-speed 5G networks, fixed wireless access and fibre connectivity under BharatNet, telecom systems are increasingly capable of supporting data-intensive AI applications.

“By having universal connectivity, you are going to get diversified data sets,” he said, underlining that large, diverse and locally stored datasets are critical for building effective AI models. With much of India’s data being stored within the country, AI applications will be able to leverage these datasets more efficiently, he added.

The minister emphasised that telecom networks form the foundational layer of India’s digital architecture. As fibre penetration deepens and high-capacity backhaul expands, networks will be better equipped to handle the surge in AI-driven services — from enterprise automation and real-time analytics to consumer applications powered by edge computing.

On regulatory coordination, Sekhar said the Department of Telecommunications works closely with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under a “whole-of-government approach.” Collaboration becomes particularly important in areas such as Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for telecom and electronics manufacturing, where policy, hardware and digital infrastructure intersect.

“When we do PLI, especially for telecom equipment, it is closely associated with electronics. In such situations, we consult and take opinions,” he said, highlighting coordinated policymaking as essential to strengthening the telecom-AI ecosystem.

Looking ahead, the minister said India is actively contributing to global 6G development efforts. With 6G expected to emerge around 2030, preparations are already underway.

“We have a 6G vision and roadmap. We take regular reviews on where we are heading. We are confident that India will be part of global standards,” he said.