The forum began with an opening address aboutbridging the digital divide. The speaker noted that India now has over 980 million broadband subscriptions – 42 per cent of which are in rural areas – and 98 per cent of villages are covered by mobile networks. Initiatives, such as BharatNet,1 submarine cable projects to remote islands, reforms to right-of-way processes and spectrum charges, have driven progress.
Nurturing a vibrant telecommunications sector
The first panel session discussed how India’s networks will sustain the next wave of AI-driven demand. A speaker from one large technology company argued that India’s edge will be at the application layer: startups and enterprises building AI solutions for both domestic ‘citizen-scale’ problems and export markets.
A speaker from a network operator described the rapid build-out of base stations and towers and an average usage of 27 GB per user. The worry is continuity of investment amid exploding traffic. Policy questions under consultation include longer spectrum terms (e.g., 40 years) and affordable, predictable backhaul spectrum pricing.
Another speaker noted that fixed-line economics remain challenging: per-connection capex can exceed revenue, risking under-investment without incentives and capped, non-variable backhaul fees.
Connecting the unconnected
This panel explored India’s progress in achieving ‘universal and meaningful connectivity’. Speakers highlighted India’s achievements: from BharatNet and PM-WANI public Wi-Fi to the rapid rollout of 5G, connectivity has transformed education, healthcare and economic participation. But nearly 400 million citizens, many in rural, tribal or remote areas, remain offline and millions more lack reliable, affordable broadband.
Another speaker stressed that meaningful connectivity requires reliability and resilience beyond a basic 2 Mbps service and must combine multiple technologies including fibre, Wi-Fi, satellite and mobile.
Another panellist explained how direct-to-mobile (D2M) can relieve telecoms networks by moving mass video consumption, such as for sports or education, to broadcast spectrum. He stressed D2M’s role in protecting media sovereignty, enabling Indian broadcasters to reach citizens directly without dependence on foreign digital platforms.
A speaker from a telecoms service provider called for sharper policy tools to reach the final mile. He suggested mobilising corporate social responsibility funds for rural connectivity, rationalising double levies on shared infrastructure, reducing device costs via refurbished handset schemes and considering GST (goods and services tax) relief on entry-level broadband services.
The commercialisation of alternative infrastructure
A speaker from the Indian government explained that there are now 300 million 5G subscribers in India. One-third of mobile traffic now flows over 5G, with usage averaging 24 GB per subscriber each month. He traced this success to groundwork laid from 2017, when a high-level forum produced the landmark ‘Making India 5G Ready’ report. Its recommendations – favourable spectrum policy, affordable pricing, testbeds, incubation labs and streamlined right-of-way rules – shaped India’s strategy.
Another speaker pointed out that India now matches China in data consumption, with subscribers averaging 30 GB per month and expected to rise to 40 GB by 2028. He outlined new models, for example, tiered pricing – charging for premium speed, reliability or location-specific coverage – enabled by network slicing and dynamic provisioning.
The creative economy
Speakers highlighted how India’s media and entertainment sector is entering a new phase. Global capability centres are no longer confined to technical delivery but are becoming hubs of value creation and India is positioned to generate its own IP at scale.
One speaker warned of India’s reliance on foreign platforms, such as YouTube and Instagram, leaving domestic creators vulnerable to algorithmic changes beyond their control.
Another argued that India lacks the business architecture – distribution, IP management and international positioning – to monetise effectively. As technology rapidly transforms content creation, India must focus on building franchises, exporting culturally resonant stories and strengthening delivery infrastructure, he said.
The panel discussion explored lessons from global models, especially in South Korea, and how they could inspire India’s media, gaming and storytelling industries. Speakers highlighted Korea’s success with the ‘Korean wave’ strategy that integrates music, TV dramas, food, tourism, fashion and cosmetics into a unified cultural export. It argued that India, with its far larger youth and creator population, can replicate this model by harnessing its unique cultural heritage.
India’s AI mission
The keynote speaker in this session framed India’s strong IT legacy as the foundation for the country’s AI strategy. The IndiaAI mission is built on seven pillars: computing, datasets, safe and trustworthy AI, foundation models, application development, skilling and startup financing.
India is also funding domestic foundation models tailored to Indian languages and contexts, alongside scaling applications in health, agriculture, climate and governance.
On skills, 150,000 students will be trained in data science by new labs and fellowships will support AI research. A fund of funds is being set up to back early-stage startups.
Partnerships for equity in an AI-driven creative economy
India, said the session’s opening speaker, has a vibrant generative AI startup ecosystem. He noted how companies are focusing on highly vertical applications in audio, video and text. He cautioned, however, that most startups remain underfunded and operate at the application layer, where sustainability and competitiveness are fragile, and without access to proprietary data and strong industry partnerships.
Another speaker addresses India’s copyright challenges, particularly around fair dealing versus fair use, text and data mining, and inconsistent judicial rulings. She warned that uncertainty could deter entrepreneurs unless India adopts pragmatic, innovation-friendly frameworks similar to those in Japan.
From a legacy media perspective, political actors have historically shaped copyright law, said one contributor. Today power is concentrated in a few large broadcasters and global digital platforms. He cautioned that misinformation and fragmented archives may distort history for future generations, underscoring the need for self-regulation and societal oversight.
A speaker from a cybersecurity firm argued for standardisation, transparency and mechanisms to give creators control over how their data trains AI models. Without equitable monetisation, the supply of original content will erode, ultimately undermining AI itself.
The future of Indian entertainment
At the keynote that opened the second day of the conference, the speaker described the government’s vision of the ‘orange economy’ – the fusion of creativity, culture and technology – as a pillar of India’s development strategy toward Viksit Bharat 2047.2 Globally valued at $2 trillion, the sector offers India an opportunity to lead, powered by its youth, low-cost data, fast-growing digital consumer base and strong creative tradition.
To build resilience and scale, the government has launched initiatives including the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), a hub for training, incubation, and research; the World Audiovisual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) to connect creators globally; and WAVES Bazaar, an online marketplace linking content creators with buyers and investors. The Create in India Challenge has already mobilised thousands of young innovators.
Agile rulemaking
The session on agile rulemaking for the digital economy explored how India can implement responsive, flexible regulation for fast-evolving sectors, with a focus on the Telecommunications Act and the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.
The first speaker emphasised the flexibility embedded in the new Telecommunication Act. It provides for three categories – licences, authorisations and registrations – enabling light-touch oversight for non-core services while maintaining rigorous licencing for critical infrastructure.
Another panellist underlined the unique challenge of a horizontally applicable law. Because the DPDP Act impacts all entities handling personal data, from multinationals to grassroots NGOs, stakeholder input is critical.
Another speaker traced India’s debate from hard localization mandates to the current pragmatic model: cross-border data flows permitted but subject to sectoral regulator restrictions. This balances business continuity with sovereignty concerns.
Adapting to digital transformation
The next keynote speaker reflected on the transformation of broadcasting and the future role of India’s public service broadcaster.
News is now a live, constantly evolving phenomenon shaped by social media and streaming. While social media platforms often break stories first, the speaker stressed that audiences still turn to trusted broadcasters for authentication and context. This presents an opportunity: moving from mere reporting to contextualisation – explaining events, connecting threads and offering analysis.
Competition, with IIC Director General, Lynn Robinson.
He acknowledged the challenges of misinformation, echo chambers, and vested interests using digital ‘toolkits’ to manipulate narratives. In response, Prasar Bharati (India’s state-owned public broadcasting organisation) is diversifying formats, with digital initiatives such as PB-Shabd, (‘Shared Audio-Visuals for Broadcast and Dissemination) which shares authentic news feeds with over 3,000 small and regional outlets across India. The strategy is to ensure credibility, inclusivity and reach especially in underserved languages and regions.
Content regulation
A speaker stressed that linear broadcasting remains relevant in India alongside OTT platforms, pointing to its reach in rural areas and low-income households. India’s telecom regulator’s draft national broadcasting policy proposes 17 goals and over 100 strategies, from expanding linear TV and radio to combating piracy and boosting the animation, visual effects, gaming and comics sector.
A panellist from industry argued that India is overregulated. The fast-growing creator economy, she said, requires policy support rather than additional controls, with a more nuanced approach to distinguish between music, video and user-generated content models.
One panellist provided an academic perspective, noting that regulation now involves both state and non-state actors across a complex global value chain. International debates, he explained, focus on ensuring visibility for local or public service content, an issue India has yet to address.
Trust and security, safety
The opening speaker outlined the government’s ‘whole-of-ecosystem’ approach to trust and security. On cross-border harms, she stressed that companies targeting Indian users must respect Indian law and countries move toward a flexible global framework for online redress.
The panel widened to discuss some technical solutions, including an on-device AI product that listens for scam markers during unknown calls or messages and deletes any traces after the call, and another system that creates imperceptible watermarks for AI content.
A speaker from a civil society organisation emphasised the ‘last mile’: users in smaller towns often can’t navigate existing controls. A speaker from a telco emphasised global-scale investments in network blocking and caller authentication. She explained how her company’s investigations found human factors in 60 per cent of breaches and noted the prominence of espionage in the Asia-Pacific region.
The IIC India Digital Communications and Media Forum was sponsored by ACTO (the Association of Competitive Telecom Operators) and KOAN Advisory Group.
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