India Strengthens Global Telecom Leadership at ITU Council

18 May 2026 CW Team

India presented a formal proposal to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-2030) and the Council accepted that proposal as a major diplomatic outcome. The acceptance represents a significant milestone in India’s role in shaping international telecom and digital policy, and the proposal is likely to be approved at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in November 2026 in Doha, Qatar. Delegates emphasised India’s capacity to host large multilateral meetings and to contribute to global standardisation processes.

India strongly canvassed support for its candidatures and hosted a networking reception on 30 April at ITU premises that was attended by 69 Member States. The delegation advanced nominations for re-election to the ITU Council and for the post of Director of the Radio Communications Bureau (BR), with Dr Revathi Mannepalli presenting her vision for the radio sector. On the sidelines, delegations held 15 bilateral meetings to garner support and to deepen ties with Member States.

On eight May, the Union Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, addressed the Council virtually and announced a voluntary contribution from India for the implementation of World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) resolutions, targeting sixth-generation mobile technology (6G), artificial intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure and sustainable digital transformation. The contribution is intended to create opportunities for India to lead workstreams within the ITU and to contribute further to global telecom standardisation and digital development initiatives.

The ITU Council, the governing body of 48 elected Member States, meets annually in Geneva to oversee strategy, policy, budget and financial control. India has been a Council member since 1952.

An Indian delegation led by Mukesh Kumar, Deputy Director General (International Relations) of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), attended the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council meeting in Geneva from 28 April to eight May 2026. The delegation, which included the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations office in Geneva, took part in deliberations on global telecommunications and digital cooperation, showcasing India’s leadership. The Council meeting provided a platform for interventions on ITU regional presence, membership and the organisation of ITU events. India presented a formal proposal to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-2030) and the Council accepted that proposal as a major diplomatic outcome. The acceptance represents a significant milestone in India’s role in shaping international telecom and digital policy, and the proposal is likely to be approved at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in November 2026 in Doha, Qatar. Delegates emphasised India’s capacity to host large multilateral meetings and to contribute to global standardisation processes. India strongly canvassed support for its candidatures and hosted a networking reception on 30 April at ITU premises that was attended by 69 Member States. The delegation advanced nominations for re-election to the ITU Council and for the post of Director of the Radio Communications Bureau (BR), with Dr Revathi Mannepalli presenting her vision for the radio sector. On the sidelines, delegations held 15 bilateral meetings to garner support and to deepen ties with Member States. On eight May, the Union Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, addressed the Council virtually and announced a voluntary contribution from India for the implementation of World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) resolutions, targeting sixth-generation mobile technology (6G), artificial intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure and sustainable digital transformation. The contribution is intended to create opportunities for India to lead workstreams within the ITU and to contribute further to global telecom standardisation and digital development initiatives. The ITU Council, the governing body of 48 elected Member States, meets annually in Geneva to oversee strategy, policy, budget and financial control. India has been a Council member since 1952.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..