India And Germany Reaffirm Telecom And Digital Cooperation

23 Feb 2026 CW Team

The Indian minister outlined India’s digital transformation, noting over 1.23 billion (bn) telecom subscribers and nearly a billion (bn) internet users, with 5G coverage in approximately 99.9 per cent of districts. He said data tariffs average around Rs 0.10 per GB and highlighted robust Digital Public Infrastructure that enables affordable connectivity and services. He referred to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has become a model for interoperable digital payments and is processing approximately 250 billion (bn) transactions annually.

The German minister expressed interest in structured cooperation on advanced telecom systems, digital governance and secure networks and emphasised early engagement on six?generation technologies. He noted Germany’s work in quantum encryption and secure information transport, citing a demonstration of quantum communication over a 35 km link for 11 consecutive days, and proposed deeper research links. Institutional collaboration between the Centre for Development of Telematics and the Fraunhofer Heinrich?Hertz Institute was cited as a successful model for joint R&D in Open RAN, artificial intelligence in telecom and next?generation networks.

Both sides agreed to convene the first high?level meeting under the Joint Declaration of Intent to finalise an initial two?year work plan, identify priority areas and launch flagship initiatives with clear timelines and stakeholder responsibilities. They reaffirmed commitment to cooperation on 5G and 5G?Advanced, Open RAN, network modernisation, supply chain resilience, industry?grade network slicing and AI at the edge, and to coordinated engagement in international fora such as the International Telecommunication Union. The Indian side sought Germany’s support for India’s candidature to the Radiocommunication Bureau and for hosting the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in 2030.

India and Germany reaffirmed cooperation in telecommunications and digital transformation after a bilateral meeting on 18 February 2026 at Sanchar Bhawan in New Delhi between the Union Minister of Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region and the German Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernization. The meeting followed the signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent on 10 January 2026 during the India?Germany Summit and was presented as a non?binding framework for structured collaboration. The Indian minister outlined India’s digital transformation, noting over 1.23 billion (bn) telecom subscribers and nearly a billion (bn) internet users, with 5G coverage in approximately 99.9 per cent of districts. He said data tariffs average around Rs 0.10 per GB and highlighted robust Digital Public Infrastructure that enables affordable connectivity and services. He referred to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has become a model for interoperable digital payments and is processing approximately 250 billion (bn) transactions annually. The German minister expressed interest in structured cooperation on advanced telecom systems, digital governance and secure networks and emphasised early engagement on six?generation technologies. He noted Germany’s work in quantum encryption and secure information transport, citing a demonstration of quantum communication over a 35 km link for 11 consecutive days, and proposed deeper research links. Institutional collaboration between the Centre for Development of Telematics and the Fraunhofer Heinrich?Hertz Institute was cited as a successful model for joint R&D in Open RAN, artificial intelligence in telecom and next?generation networks. Both sides agreed to convene the first high?level meeting under the Joint Declaration of Intent to finalise an initial two?year work plan, identify priority areas and launch flagship initiatives with clear timelines and stakeholder responsibilities. They reaffirmed commitment to cooperation on 5G and 5G?Advanced, Open RAN, network modernisation, supply chain resilience, industry?grade network slicing and AI at the edge, and to coordinated engagement in international fora such as the International Telecommunication Union. The Indian side sought Germany’s support for India’s candidature to the Radiocommunication Bureau and for hosting the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in 2030.

Infrastructure Transport

11 May 2026

RAHSTA 2026 to Host Certified Highway Construction Masterclass

RAHSTA 2026 will organise the Certified Highway Construction Masterclass, a specialised two-day corporate training programme for highway construction professionals, on July 8–9, 2026, at the Jio World Convention Centre.The Masterclass will be delivered by RASTA – Center for Road Technology and supported by Construction World and FIRST Construction Council.Designed as an industry-led refresher programme, the Masterclass aims to help engineering and project teams stay updated with the latest advancements in highway construction, pavement technologies, sustainable materials, intelligent compa..

Infrastructure Urban

11 May 2026

Grand Mercure Mysuru Turns 10; BHVL to Invest Rs 1,000 Crore in Karnataka

Brigade Hotel Ventures Limited (BHVL) has marked the 10th anniversary of its flagship property, Grand Mercure Mysuru, by announcing a major investment plan of around Rs 1,000 crore in Karnataka over the next five years. The company said the investment will be directed towards new hospitality projects as well as modernisation of existing assets, aligning with the evolving demand for experiential tourism.The announcement comes as BHVL reiterated its focus on strengthening Mysuru’s position as a prominent global tourism destination by supporting the local micro-economy and adopting sustainable ..

Infrastructure Urban

11 May 2026

Ottobock and Celcius Set Up Prosthetics Warehouse in India

Celcius Logistics, a domestic third-party logistics (3PL) company specialising in end-to-end cold-chain solutions, has partnered with Ottobock India, the Indian arm of Germany-based Ottobock, to establish a dedicated prosthetics warehouse and logistics distribution hub in India. As part of the collaboration, a technology-enabled facility has been launched in Thane to streamline storage and nationwide movement of prosthetic and assistive devices.The dedicated warehouse is expected to strengthen the medical supply chain by reducing turnaround time and improving access to prosthetic products acro..