Telcos bat for policy reforms to boost digital infrastructure at India Mobile Congress
With India’s telecom and digital infrastructure expanding rapidly, telecom players are advocating for policy reforms to expand satellite services across the nation, support artificial intelligence (AI) and requested the Centre to expedite the updating of the 2020 draft of the Data Centre Policy.
Speaking at the 8th edition of the India Mobile Congress 2024 in New Delhi, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, said telecom companies can play a major role in delivering satellite services to India’s most remote areas. He said satellite companies seeking to serve urban, elite customers should operate under the same regulatory framework as telecom operators.
“Those satellite companies which have ambitions to come into urban areas, just need to take the telecom licences like everybody else, be bound with the same conditions. They need to buy the spectrum as the telecom companies buy, they need to pay the licence fee, as telecom companies do, and also secure the networks, like telecom companies do. India can again show the way in this particular regard,” Mittal said.
Mittal’s statement is in line with rival Reliance Jio who are advocating for satellite companies to go through the spectrum auction process rather than being allocated spectrum on an administrative basis by the government.
Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio, urged the government to expedite updates to India’s data centre policy, emphasising the importance of keeping critical data within the country. “ The scale and speed of multi-lingual data generation in India, which will drive the AI revolution, will grow exponentially. We request the government to expedite the updating of the 2020 draft of the Data Centre Policy,” he added.
PM pitches for global digital rules
PM Modi on Tuesday made a fervent pitch for putting in place a global framework for use of digital technology and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at the inauguration of the International Telecommunication Union - WTSA and India Mobile Congress, he favoured clear ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ to safeguard citizens.
