During the Trai–STPI Pre-Summit Event on ‘AI in Telecommunications’, Trai Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti remarked that telecom networks serve as the main channels for AI, while AI adds an intelligent layer to telecom services.
He noted that telecom service providers are increasingly leveraging AI for network planning, optimizing operations, predicting maintenance, and enhancing user experience by combating fraud, detecting spam, and automating complex workflows.
“Simultaneously, we must recognize that AI-driven systems present certain concerns. Automated decisions stemming from AI can influence millions of users. Thus, ensuring transparency, accountability, and human oversight is crucial when utilizing AI,” Lahoti stated.
He mentioned that the AI systems used by telecom providers are capable of detecting and blocking approximately 400 million voice calls or messages daily through AI and blockchain technology.
Lahoti indicated that with the introduction of 5G, accelerated data consumption, the expansion of IoT, and initial developments of 6G, telecom networks have evolved into highly complex and dynamic systems. Managing this scale and complexity through traditional methods is increasingly becoming a monumental challenge.
“Artificial intelligence has thus emerged as not just an efficiency tool but also as a foundational capability. AI is reshaping the telecommunications sector, particularly in India where we have over 1.2 billion telecom subscribers and nearly 1 billion data users,” Lahoti asserted.
Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) Director General S P Kochhar expressed that AI needs to be developed at a scale that benefits the masses, especially in rural areas through voice-based services.
“We must cultivate trust. Only then will the benefits of AI be realized and accepted by the broader population. Discussions on data ownership, which were previously marginal, will now become central. Topics like data ownership, privacy, bias, transparency, and accountability are moving to the forefront,” Kochhar remarked.
He pointed out that pricing of AI technology, along with privacy and security risks, remains a concern.
“TRAI’s consultative and principle-based approach strikes a suitable balance between innovation and protection. We require adaptive frameworks that emphasize transparency, security, privacy, protection, and accountability,” Kochhar noted.
He added that while discussions around these frameworks have occurred, implementing them will require substantial efforts.
“We need clear and consistent policies and regulations, as that will attract investments and innovation in India. Without clarity and consistency in policies and regulations, investor intervention will not materialize. This is crucial, and it’s an area where we must intensify our efforts,” Kochhar emphasized.
He highlighted the need for investment in skilled labor that meets industry demands.
“Although our statistics may suggest we have a surplus of skilled manpower, the reality is different. I apologize for this bold assertion. After spending six years in the skilled ecosystem, I can say that the type of people we are training are primarily blue-collar workers, and they do not align with industry needs. A revamp of the system is necessary; we must skill, re-skill, and up-skill individuals,” Kochhar stated.
IndiaAI COO Kavita Bhatia shared that working groups are gathering insights from pre-IndiaAI Impact Summit events, which will inform the declaration document for the upcoming summit scheduled in Delhi on February 19-20.
“We have already conducted 25 working group meetings, and the inputs from the pre-summit events will be integrated by the committees to finalize their declaration document, leading to the main declaration,” she explained.
Bhatia mentioned that the goal was to hold over 300 pre-AI Impact Summit events for broader public engagement, and the current count has surpassed 350, with an additional 157 planned before February 7.
She noted that approximately 2.2 lakh people have already engaged in the 350 pre-summit events.
“We anticipate the attendance of over 15 heads of state and participation from more than 100 countries at the IndiaAI Impact Summit. To date, we have confirmed attendance from 12 countries, and we expect 7 to 8 additional heads of state to join. Over 50 global leaders will also participate in the summit,” Bhatia concluded.
