India is gearing up to host the prestigious World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) in the coming year, marking a significant stride toward the advancement of 5G and 6G networks, as announced by Union Communication & IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, during a press conference held today in New Delhi.
Scheduled every four years, the World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) serves as the governing conference of the ITU Standardisation Sector (ITU-T), a pivotal event within the framework of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations.
Addressing attendees at the India Mobile Congress 2023, hosted at Pragati Maidan, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw underscored the global significance of India’s role in technology adoption, noting that the world is closely watching the country’s technological achievements.
Minister Vaishnaw emphasized India’s commitment to telecom standards development, highlighting the recognition of the indigenous 5Gi standards by ITU as one of the pivotal technologies for 5G implementation.
In addition, he addressed the historical shift in India’s mobile device landscape, pointing out that the country, which used to import approximately 98 percent of mobile phones a decade ago, has now emerged as a mobile export hub with exports worth Rs 90,000 crore in the past year.
Minister Vaishnaw also commended the transformation of the Indian telecom sector, remarking on its evolution from past controversies, such as the 2G spectrum scandal, to its current status as a beacon of affordable internet access for its citizens. He credited this transformation to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Moreover, it is noteworthy that on March 3, 2022, Minister Vaishnaw and Houlin Zhao, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), signed the Host Country Agreement (HCA) for the establishment of an Area Office and Innovation Centre of ITU in New Delhi. This agreement provides the necessary legal and financial framework for the setup and operations of the area office.
