Minister Scindia Chairs Second Stakeholders Advisory Committee Meeting on Telecom Services

New Delhi; The Minister of Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Communications, held the second meeting of the recently established Stakeholders Advisory Committee (SAC) on Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) on Friday. This initiative, led by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), seeks to engage key stakeholders in shaping the future of India’s telecommunication sector and fostering inclusive policy decisions.

The meeting built on discussions from the first SAC on TSP, with a focus on critical areas such as international standards, India’s contributions to Intellectual Property and Standard Essential Patents (SEP), connectivity gaps, and improving telecom service quality.

Members of the SAC emphasized the importance of aligning research with India’s specific needs, and the necessity of developing a robust standards community. They highlighted several initiatives already in place, including the launch of the Bhart6G Vision, the Bhart6G Alliance, and support for patents and intellectual property rights (IPR). The committee set an ambitious goal for India to achieve 10% of global 6G patents and contribute 1/6th to global standards, promoting the country’s needs on the international stage. To achieve this, the SAC proposed a three-year roadmap.

During the meeting, SAC members discussed the importance of reliable connectivity for India’s aspirations to become a deep-tech leader. They stressed the need for widespread penetration of wireline and intelligent wireless broadband networks. Telecom service providers (TSPs) requested a supportive policy framework to encourage investment in achieving 100% broadband coverage across the country. Measures to improve the quality of telecom services were also deliberated.

Minister Scindia urged SAC members to outline a clear path to achieving the discussed targets and to define the roles of various stakeholders, including the government, in meeting these goals. He also encouraged TSPs to take the necessary steps to ensure that Indian citizens receive high-quality telecom services.

The SAC on TSP is one of six distinct Stakeholders Advisory Committees (SACs) established by Minister Scindia to provide insights to the DoT on key telecom sector issues. These committees facilitate a two-way dialogue between the government and the industry, with members including industry thought leaders, top CEOs, academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, and startups.