Artificial Intelligence, 6G, and India’s growing role in shaping the global digital economy dominated discussions on the second day of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, Asia’s largest technology, media, and telecom event. The four-day forum, jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), has become a showcase of India’s digital ambitions—from AI-driven governance to future connectivity and indigenous innovation. The second day was packed with high-level dialogues, keynote sessions, and debates that reflected how India’s telecom and digital ecosystem is fast converging with global innovation trends.
The day began with a Leadership Dialogue Round Table led by Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, under the theme “Charting India’s Telecom Vision.” The session brought together CEOs of major telecom and technology companies to discuss the country’s roadmap for the 6G era, semiconductor manufacturing, and digital infrastructure. “India has transformed from a service-driven economy to a value-chain powerhouse,” Scindia said. “From mobile revolution to chip manufacturing, our rise has been fueled by entrepreneurs and supported by a government that acts as a facilitator, not a regulator. We are ready to design in India, solve in India, and scale for the world.”
Later, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, joined global CTOs in a session on “Aligning Innovation with Policy for Digital Leadership.” The discussion focused on how India’s technology policy must evolve to enable innovation in artificial intelligence, telecom, and edge computing while maintaining global competitiveness.
In one of the day’s most engaging sessions, Smt. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi, addressed the Women in Tech forum, calling for greater inclusion in the country’s innovation ecosystem. “This year’s event embodies the power of ideas, inclusion, and innovation,” she said. “Women are no longer on the sidelines but leading from the front. Swadeshi today is not just about products—it is about a mindset of self-reliance across education, healthcare, and technology.” Gupta added that women-led participation in the technology workforce will be critical as India moves deeper into the AI and automation era.
A major highlight of the day was the inauguration of the International AI Summit and the Open API Hackathon, which brought together developers, startups, and industry leaders to collaborate on AI-driven solutions for India’s digital future. The hackathon is designed to foster open innovation by encouraging real-world applications in areas like smart mobility, urban services, healthcare, and security.
The day also featured multiple panel discussions exploring the convergence of artificial intelligence, policy, and connectivity. The sessions, including “Democratizing Intelligence: Building India’s AI Infrastructure,” “Gen AI and the Future of Enterprises,” “Responsible AI and Global Governance,” and “6G Use Cases and Enabling Technologies,” examined how India could build scalable AI infrastructure while preparing for the next generation of telecom networks. Panels such as “Nation Builders: How Unicorns and Government Are Co-Creating the Future” and “Synergizing Telecom and Skills for Viksit Bharat” further underlined the need for public-private cooperation to align India’s digital roadmap with its development vision.
Leaders from across the industry contributed their perspectives on the evolution of AI and telecom. Aditi Chaturvedi, Head of Platform and Device Policy at Google India, discussed how the company is tackling fraud and misinformation through three pillars—user protection, reliable information, and collaboration. “Frauds and scams deprive user trust and seriously impact how we deliver information,” she said.
Anku Jain, Managing Director of MediaTek India, highlighted that the true value of AI adoption lies in addressing operational inefficiencies. “The real value comes from connecting AI’s power to everyday business problems. This drives efficiency, adoption, and measurable impact,” he said.
Vinod Saharan, Vice President – IoT at VVDN, spoke about India’s growing capabilities in product design and manufacturing, identifying healthcare as a major opportunity area. “With AR/VR-led diagnostics, remote care, and device repair, India can emerge as a global design and manufacturing leader,” he said.
Rehan Nedaria, CTO, Service Provider, Cisco, drew parallels between India’s digital transformation and its AI potential. “As we did with UPI and DigiYatra, the goal should be to democratize artificial intelligence and make it accessible to every citizen, business, and institution,” he said, emphasising infrastructure investments in computing power, networking, and security.
Erik Ekudden, Senior Vice President and Group CTO at Ericsson, spoke on the evolution toward 6G, noting that the next generation of networks will become platforms for innovation, automation, and sustainable growth rather than simply offering faster speeds.
Pasi Toivanen, Vice President, NI Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem at Nokia, added that building a sustainable AI ecosystem requires collaboration between academia, startups, and corporations. “AI innovation is not about isolated capabilities—it’s about creating ecosystems that democratize access and turn potential into progress,” he said.
The India Mobile Congress 2025, being held from October 8 to 11 in New Delhi, is hosting over 400 exhibitors, 7,000 delegates, and 800 speakers from more than 150 countries. The event’s flagship startup program, ASPIRE, features more than 500 startups and connects them with over 300 investors and incubators for mentorship and live pitching sessions. As IMC continues into its final days, the conversations around AI, 6G, and innovation reflect a clear message: India is not just participating in the global technology revolution—it’s helping lead it.
