A central anchor of the day was the International 6G Symposium, where global standardisation bodies and regional alliances converged to align the roadmap toward IMT-2030.
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, 09 October, 2026: The 10th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 brought global consensus and sovereign innovation to the forefront, anchoring the forum's focus on next-generation standardisation and secure network architectures on the day 3. Engaging with the theme of 'Scale Without Boundaries,' international telecom alliances, government leaders and deep-tech pioneers drove critical dialogues on shaping the global 6G roadmap, scaling AI-native telecom networks and deploying resilient cybersecurity frameworks to protect the next billion digital connections.
Addressing the media on the sidelines of the forum on Day 3 of IMC 2026, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, outlined India’s strategic transition from digital connectivity expansion to global technological leadership. He highlighted that the nation’s rapid rollout of 5G Standalone will serve as the foundational bridge to 6G, marking a historic shift where India actively shapes international communication standards rather than adopting them. He said, “India has already built its own 4G stack and deployed it across the country. The next frontier is 5G Standalone, which will serve as the bridge between 5G and 6G. The next phase of our journey will be about building AI-enabled networks, developing indigenous technologies and shaping the global standards that will define the future of telecommunications. Through the Bharat 6G Alliance, India is contributing to that future, moving from adopting technology to helping shape it.”
A central anchor of the day was the International 6G Symposium, where global standardisation bodies and regional alliances converged to align the roadmap toward IMT-2030. The track went further by bridging standardisation with hardware independence through a dedicated ‘Silicon to Sovereignty’ session that outlined strategies to scale indigenous semiconductor capacity, trusted chip design and deep-tech intellectual property.
Parallel tracks addressed the operational realities of emerging technologies, headlined by the AI for Good Summit (ITU), which brought together global institutions, C-DOT and industry researchers to establish frameworks for research, policy and deployment of public-interest AI. Dedicated sessions on AI-native network defence and telecom supply chain security drew in national cyber agencies and telecom leaders. A standalone session on Subsea Connectivity examined cable resilience and India’s exposure in a world where undersea links carry the overwhelming bulk of global data traffic. Sessions on the Network API economy, trusted IoT stacks and the energy convergence of telecom and AI data centres completed a day that consistently pushed beyond how to scale India’s digital infrastructure to ask who governs it, who secures it and who ultimately owns the architecture.
Ramakrishna P., CEO, India Mobile Congress said: "As we mark our 10th edition, the India Mobile Congress has evolved beyond a technology showcase to become a defining platform for global standardisation. Today’s sessions on the IMT-2030 roadmap and trusted digital architectures prove that India is no longer just a vast market for technology deployment but a critical hub for deep-tech innovation. By uniting international telecom alliances, government bodies and startups, we are ensuring that the frameworks governing the 6G and AI era are built collaboratively, securely and with a vision for true global impact."
Organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the landmark 10th edition of IMC is set to welcome over 1.5 lakh attendees from more than 100 countries. Across four days, the forum brings together 600+ partners and exhibitors, 500+ startups and 900+ thought leaders, showcasing more than 2,000 technology use cases across over 120 sessions. IMC 2026 covers established anchor sectors including 5G and 6G, next-generation AI networks, semiconductors, non-terrestrial networks, cybersecurity, quantum communication, enterprise transformation, circular economy and ESG and electronics manufacturing.
Quotes from industry leaders and policymakers on Inaugural day of India Mobile Congress 2026:
Lt. Gen. Dr. S.P. Kochhar, Director General, COAI
“As networks reach every nook and corner of the country, subscriber expectations around bandwidth and network quality continue to rise. Building consumer trust and network resilience is therefore critical. We have started using AI to streamline operations and enhance consumer benefits, but this also brings challenges around skills, employment and infrastructure costs. While AI may disrupt certain jobs, it will also create new opportunities in data science, analysis and AI management. The resulting data demands require us to augment networks faster. Ultimately, the consumer matters most, and we must continue to build trust while addressing these challenges.”
Erik Ekudden, Chief Technology Officer, Ericsson
“In 5G, we are already working on differentiated performance, programmable networks through network APIs and bringing AI into the RAN. Those developments are creating the business conditions and learnings that will carry us into 6G. At the same time, AI is changing the way we think about devices and services, from smartphones and wearables to drones, autonomous vehicles and humanoids. These new use cases will create very different requirements for networks, including greater uplink capacity, more flexible connectivity and services that can support new patterns of data flows. The next step is to build differentiated performance and services around business models that allow this flexibility to translate into real value.”
Sanjeev Dhallam, VP, Core Network & Security, Bharti Airtel
“AI is helping strengthen both consumer protection and network security by improving the speed and visibility with which telecom operators can detect and respond to suspicious activity. However, AI-driven actions need to be supported by the right context and intelligence to ensure accurate decisions. While AI can help automate detection and containment, clear policy guardrails and human oversight remain critical, particularly when it comes to taking sensitive actions that could impact the network.”
Radhey Sarda, SVP & Head Advanced Technologies, Reliance Jio
“Network-as-a-Service is moving from a niche offering to a scalable reality, with 5G Standalone, network slicing and edge computing enabling connectivity tailored to specific needs. From ensuring reliable, priority access for first responders during mass gatherings to powering low-latency, high-bandwidth applications in smart manufacturing, NaaS is driving business agility while strengthening network resilience. These use cases demonstrate how programmable networks can deliver measurable value across industries and serve as scalable models for India and the world.”
Ankit Goel, Founder and Chairman, Space World Group
“Physical network security is a critical part of the digital infrastructure ecosystem. As an IP1 player, the focus is on building a secure physical network in line with government guidelines. Network design is planned with a long-term outlook of at least 25 years, with security measures incorporated at the deployment stage to address challenges such as fibre cuts and infrastructure requirements in remote locations. Engagement with local authorities, from the panchayat level to regulatory bodies, further supports network security. A robust Network Operations Centre (NOC), supported by IoT devices, enables network monitoring and helps maintain a secure and reliable infrastructure backbone, ensuring service continuity and a consistent user experience.”
Robert May, Executive Vice President of Technology and Product Management, Fortinet
“As organisations accelerate AI adoption to drive business growth and efficiency, they must balance innovation with robust data protection, regulatory compliance and digital sovereignty. The way forward lies in two complementary approaches, ‘Security for AI’ - to safeguard AI applications, infrastructure and sensitive data against emerging threats; and ‘AI for Security’ - to help security teams automate operations, accelerate threat detection and response, and manage growing complexity more effectively. Telecom and service providers will also play a vital role in extending these advanced security capabilities to businesses of all sizes, enabling them to adopt AI with greater confidence.”
Vibha Mehra, India Country Manager, Nokia
“As an industry, there has to be a very conscious effort to create a plan on how to move forward, not just as a telecom industry, but as a tech industry. This has to be done in partnership and at scale. If the right technologies are not adopted and brought into everything that is done, the industry will be left behind. Reskilling and upskilling are essential, and there has to be good collaboration between industry, government and universities. The ability to keep changing and adjusting to the changing environment is a critical skill.”
Jeanette Whyte, Head of Public Policy, APAC, GSMA
“As India accelerates its digital transformation, building a safer and more trusted online ecosystem is essential to sustaining consumer confidence and unlocking the full potential of the country’s digital economy. Addressing online scams, cyberbullying and other forms of digital harm requires moving beyond a compliance-led approach to one that embeds security, privacy and user protection into the design of digital services. Closer collaboration between technology platforms, telecom operators, policymakers and industry stakeholders, supported by a risk-based approach to security, will be critical to protecting users without compromising inclusion and ease of access. A collective commitment to digital trust will be fundamental to India’s ambition of becoming a global digital leader."
Dr. Dilip Krishnaswamy, Executive Vice President - III, C-DOT
“The future of connectivity lies in making it ubiquitous, intelligent and sustainable. We are exploring how satellite-enabled networks, edge AI and 6G technologies can bring essential services to remote communities, strengthen disaster response and create new economic opportunities for rural India. By combining indigenous innovation with collaborative research, we can ensure that the benefits of digital transformation reach every community and advance the vision of Viksit Bharat.”
