Telecom Will Drive India’s Journey to Viksit Bharat 2047: Secretary Neeraj Mittal at ESTIC 2025
Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom) and Chairman, Digital Communications Commission, at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on Wednesday.
DoT showcases 6G innovation and global collaborations during Digital Communication session at ESTIC 2025
New Delhi, November 6: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) led the thematic session on ‘Digital Communication’ at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on Wednesday. The session, chaired by Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom) and Chairman, Digital Communications Commission, showcased India’s telecom innovation and 6G vision before a distinguished gathering of scientists, academicians, and industry leaders.
In his inaugural address, Dr Mittal said, “Telecom has become an enabler not only of the economy but of all technologies developing across disciplines. Connectivity is the foundation of every productive activity, and the sector heralds new opportunities to achieve the impossible.”
Highlighting India’s rapid digital growth, the Secretary noted that India has achieved one of the world’s fastest 5G rollouts under the vision of the Prime Minister. “Over 100 5G labs have been established across India to develop future use cases and strengthen the 6G R&D ecosystem,” he said.
Dr. Mittal outlined a multi-pronged strategy to advance next-generation communications — supporting over 100 active R&D projects in areas such as Open RAN, indigenous chipsets, AI-driven intelligent networks, and regulatory sandboxes to spur innovation.
He also underscored the role of the Bharat 6G Alliance, which has forged 10 global partnerships and aims for India to contribute 10% of worldwide 6G patents by 2030, marking a major step toward global technology leadership.
The keynote address on “How to Realise the 6G Vision for Bharat” was delivered by Prof. Kiran Kumar Kuchi of IIT Hyderabad and Founder, WiSig Networks. Industry leaders Ramu Srinivasaiah (Lekha Wireless Solutions) and Dr Kumar N. Sivarajan (Tejas Networks) shared insights on 6G network design and India’s roadmap to becoming a global telecom powerhouse.
A panel discussion on “Taking Indigenous Technologies to the Next Level”, moderated by Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT, featured leading experts from IIT Madras, IISc Bengaluru, BSNL, and Tejas Networks. The discussion explored strategies for expanding India’s 5G ecosystem, advancing NavIC L1-based PNT systems, and scaling indigenous technology from D2M to 6G.
ESTIC 2025, held from November 3–5, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The conclave, themed “Viksit Bharat 2047 – Pioneering Sustainable Innovation, Technological Advancement, and Empowerment,” was jointly organised by 13 central ministries and departments under the guidance of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
The three-day event brought together over 3,000 participants — including Nobel laureates, scientists, innovators, and policymakers — to deliberate on 11 frontier areas ranging from AI and Quantum Technologies to Advanced Manufacturing and Space Tech, envisioning India’s transformation into a global technology leader by 2047.
