Lt. Gen. Dr. S.P. Kochhar
October 2025 marked a defining moment for India's telecommunications sector as the India Mobile Congress 2025 brought together over 1.5 lakh visitors, showcasing 1,600 cutting-edge use cases demonstrating how telecommunications has evolved from a standalone vertical into a foundational enabler of India's economic growth and social transformation. In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's journey from being a technology consumer to emerging as a global digital leader, setting the vision for our industry's role in realizing India’s aspiration of becoming a developed nation by 2047. COAI's active participation throughout IMC 2025 reflected our commitment to addressing the sector's most pressing challenges.
Critical challenges were also brought into sharp focus during the month. The widening gap between network capital expenditure and revenue, now exceeding ₹10,000 crore, signals a structural imbalance threatening the industry's ability to sustain quality infrastructure investment. COAI has been vocal about spectrum pricing reforms that reflects telecommunications' new role as a ‘value-added horizontal’ - an essential foundational infrastructure rather than a mere vertical. TRAI's consultation for the next spectrum auction covering 10 bands, including upper 6 GHz spectrum, presents an opportunity to reimagine pricing methodologies balancing government revenue with industry sustainability.
The regulatory asymmetry between licensed telecom operators and emerging platforms demands urgent attention. COAI's consistent position remains that similar services must operate under similar rules to ensure fair competition and security standards. As OTT messaging service platforms carry increasing network traffic, establishing regulatory parity becomes essential for national security and consumer protection. Current gaps create security vulnerabilities and place disproportionate financial burden on licensed operators complying with comprehensive requirements while competing with platforms facing minimal obligations.
On the ongoing debate over satellite spectrum pricing, the DoT’s consideration of 5% usage fee, highlights the inherent complexity of encouraging investment in complementary technologies while maintaining level playing fields. COAI's position remains consistent: satellite communication should serve as a complement to terrestrial networks, particularly for rural and remote areas, but offering comparable urban services requires consistent regulatory treatment.
The month also reflected the tremendous progress achieved and critical policy decisions that lie ahead for the Indian telecommunication sector. Realizing the full potential of telecommunications requires a regulatory evolution recognizing its transformed character — from vertical service to horizontal infrastructure. Equally important are policy frameworks that safeguard the industry’s financial health, enabling sustained investment in networks and innovations that will define India's digital future.
COAI remains committed to constructive engagement with all stakeholders, ensuring telecommunications continues connecting, empowering and transforming lives across our nation.