Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Shekhar, addressed the high-level group of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) in Baku on Tuesday. He presented India’s vision for a secure and inclusive global digital future.
He also reaffirmed India’s long-standing partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
He stated that India has emerged as one of the world’s most connected societies, empowering 1.2 billion telecom subscribers, 1 billion internet users, and 1.4 billion digital identities. He emphasized that India has set a new global benchmark by expanding 4G to remote areas at a cost of $4.8 billion and reaching 99 percent of districts with the world’s fastest 5G rollout.
He said that with the world’s lowest data tariffs, highest data consumption, and a digital infrastructure that enables 46 percent of global digital transactions, India has proven that access, affordability, and scale can be pursued simultaneously.
The Union Minister of State stated that Indian innovations in digital identity, payments, and governance are providing support to countries in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. This collaboration is not driven by commercial interests, but by the belief that digital capabilities can and should be shared. Through its Centers of Excellence, India has trained thousands of professionals in spectrum management, cybersecurity, and digital governance, and has consistently advocated for equitable spectrum allocation, affordable satellite broadband, and technology transfer that empowers developing countries.
The Union Minister of State announced India’s candidacy for re-election to the ITU Council for the 2027-2030 term. He stated that India will continue to promote the priorities of developing countries, support practical solutions such as technology transfer and capacity building, and foster consensus in various fields. The Union Minister of State also announced India’s nomination for the post of Director of the Bureau of Radiocommunications, reaffirming India’s commitment to promoting innovation-based, future-ready spectrum governance around the world.
In his concluding remarks, the Union Minister of State stated that India is committed to working closely with all member countries to ensure that the benefits of connectivity reach every citizen across the world.
