On the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2026, stakeholders from the telecom, satellite, digital services, and network infrastructure sectors highlighted that India’s next phase of digital growth will depend on secure, scalable, and resilient communication networks capable of supporting high-volume, real-time digital operations.
S.P. Kochhar, Director General of the Cellular Operators Association of India, stated that telecom networks have undergone a fundamental transformation in their role within the economy. He said, “Telecom networks today are no longer just enabling communication; they have evolved into a value-added horizontal supporting every major sector of the economy. From UPI transactions and digital governance to healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and enterprise operations, India’s real-time digital economy now runs on resilient telecom infrastructure.”
He further added that entities benefiting significantly from this ecosystem, including large traffic-generating platforms driving substantial data consumption and monetisation, must contribute fairly toward strengthening the underlying network infrastructure.
Emphasising the expanding role of satellite communications in enhancing connectivity resilience, especially in remote regions and during disruptions, A. K. Bhatt, former Director General of the Indian Space Association, said, “Satellite communications will complement terrestrial infrastructure by ensuring seamless connectivity in remote areas, disaster-hit regions and during network disruptions.” He also called for faster regulatory approvals, streamlined licensing frameworks, and timely spectrum allocation mechanisms to support sectoral growth.
Echoing similar views, Gautam Sharma, Managing Director of Viasat India, stated that satellite communications are becoming a vital extension of terrestrial networks, enabling reliable connectivity in geographically challenging regions and during natural disasters when conventional systems may fail.
On the infrastructure front, Vibha Mehra, Country Manager of Nokia India, noted that as networks evolve beyond basic connectivity into intelligent digital ecosystems, the demand for secure, resilient, and high-performance infrastructure has become significantly more critical.
Industry leaders further highlighted the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence, cloud-native technologies, edge computing, and secure digital platforms as essential pillars of resilient digital ecosystems.
Rajesh Chandiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Comviva, stated, “The resilience of communications networks is no longer just about connectivity, but about ensuring continuity of critical digital experiences.” He added that building resilient ecosystems requires deeper integration of intelligent networks, cloud-native architectures, artificial intelligence-driven platforms, and secure infrastructures to ensure uninterrupted services even during network stress or disruption.
Amol Phadke, Chief Transformation Officer at Tech Mahindra, said that Communications Service Providers are at a pivotal inflection point where connectivity has evolved from being an enabler to becoming the foundational layer for unlocking broader industrial and societal opportunities. He further noted that the industry is transitioning from connectivity-led models to platform-driven, ecosystem-centric growth powered by artificial intelligence, cloud-native architectures, open application programming interfaces, and edge technologies.
Meanwhile, Pankaj Malik, Chief Executive Officer and Whole-time Director of Invenia-STL Networks, stated that the focus of telecom development is shifting beyond connectivity toward network quality and intelligence. He added that the next phase of telecom growth in India will be defined by deeper fibre deployment, resilient infrastructure, and low-latency networks capable of supporting real-time, data-intensive applications.
Rahul Tandon, Senior Vice President at IDEMIA Secure Transaction, emphasised that Internet of Things technologies, embedded SIM solutions, and quantum-safe security frameworks are rapidly becoming foundational to building resilient, trusted, and future-ready digital ecosystems. He stated that future networks will be defined not only by connectivity strength but also by the security embedded within them.
The collective insights from industry leaders underline a decisive shift in India’s digital landscape, where telecom and allied infrastructure are emerging as the backbone of economic continuity, technological advancement, and national digital resilience.
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