The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) hosted its flagship COAI Dialogues 2025 in New Delhi, bringing together leaders from government, regulatory bodies, and the telecom industry to chart India’s path toward Viksit Bharat: a vision of a digitally empowered and economically advanced nation. The event was graced by Ritu Ranjan Mittar, Member, TRAI; Julian Gorman, Head Asia Pacific, GSMA and other leaders from the government and industry. All stakeholders came together for the full day conference spanning across 5 sessions to discuss critical areas such as regulatory reforms, spectrum availability and affordability, infrastructure sharing and investment opportunities, under the theme of “Empowering Viksit Bharat”.
Lt Gen Dr SP Kochhar, Director General, COAI, opened the event by highlighting that COAI Dialogues marks a shift from siloed discussions to cross-cutting conversations across policy, regulation, and technology aimed at turning insights into actionable outcomes for the telecom industry. “This series marks a departure from traditional panels that remain confined to one vertical. It brings together cross-cutting conversations across policy, regulation and technology. Building on the outcomes of DIGICOM Summit 2025, the dialogue continues to explore grey areas that need deeper answers. He emphasized that such discussions, year after year, will ensure that insights don’t just end with reports but evolve into actionable learnings that benefit the telecom industry as a whole,” he said.
In his address, Chief Guest Ritu Ranjan Mittar, Member, TRAI said: “When we talk about digital inclusion, we must not be satisfied with the achievements we had; 1.2 billion users, fastest 5G rollout, but have to reach the last customer who is still not included. The time is near for AI-enabled phones and trust issues must be addressed, given the challenges voice AI will bring. With ongoing work on backhaul spectrum and updated interconnect regulations, DoT and TRAI are actively advancing the sector.”
The Digital India initiative is aimed towards strengthening connectivity, enhancing public service delivery and enabling sustainable economic development. In-line with the values of the initiative, the one-day event witnessed keynotes and session discussions by industry leaders across topics like, the early monetization of next-generation technologies like 6G and their transformative role in accelerating sustainable development, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and empowering underserved and regions across the country, while dealing with issues of immediate attention such as rise of spam/fraud communications via OTT Communication Apps and others.
In the panel discussion on “Building the Future Network: Expanding Coverage, Powering Innovation, Bridging Earth and Sky,” the panelists highlighted that 5G has already transformed India into one of the most advanced digital markets, enabling high-speed connectivity, FWA adoption, and seamless user experiences at scale. Looking ahead, they emphasized that the true game-changer will be how courage meets coverage ensuring innovation remains inclusive and that every citizen, household, and enterprise can unlock the promise of next-gen networks, from 5G today to 6G tomorrow.
Julian Gorman, Head Asia Pacific, GSMA said, “India’s digital progress is powered by connectivity but must rest on digital trust, requiring urgent collaboration across the Government and industry to build a secure and resilient ecosystem. As a rising telecom superpower, India can lead by championing global standards, open interoperable frameworks and fostering harmony amid digital fragmentation. By sharing its innovations, India can help lift millions worldwide into the digital age, forging a legacy of global leadership and empowerment for a secure, inclusive digital future.”
Rahul Vatts, Vice Chairperson, COAI and Chief Regulatory Officer, Bharti Airtel said, “Telecom is a very dynamic sector that has transformed the society over the last 30 years, built on unique collaboration between regulators, policymakers, Government and the private sector. Nowhere else in the world do networks carry 25 to 28 GB of data per user as smoothly, or roll out a massive 5G network in hardly a year and a half. One key concern today is digital trust and safety, especially with large-scale digital fraud. Networks, with Government and Regulator support, are addressing this with forward-looking regulations and innovative solutions. But the wider digital ecosystem must also be involved to tackle these challenges.”
Sandeep Saxena, Head of Technology and Solutions in Mobile Networks, Nokia India, stated: “Connectivity is no longer just a buzzword; it is the cornerstone of India’s digital revolution and future growth. As we move forward, our vision is to ensure universal, meaningful connectivity that is advanced, seamless, and accessible to every citizen across urban and rural India. This transformation is powered by ubiquitous advanced access, AI-driven intelligent networks, cloud integration, and next-generation devices that go beyond traditional smartphones. Together, these technological pillars will enable uninterrupted access anytime and anywhere, across any device, leading to enhanced efficiency, productivity, and innovation.”
