India to draft AI-native telecom rules, partners with ITU on 6G push

Stakes claim to key ITU organ that fixes orbital slots for communication satellites

India plans to frame guidelines for the creation of artificial intelligence (AI)-native telecom networks and boost research in the field, said department of telecommunications (DoT) officials on Wednesday.

 

Speaking at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the officials said India has started to work with the union on AI-integration in network architecture, particularly in the context of 6G.

 

“The Focus Group on AI-native networks will focus on several key objectives, researching AI integration in network architecture and identifying new use cases. They will also address challenges and gaps, and collaborate with other standard development organisation and industry groups to ensure a unified approach to AI networking,” said Shubhendu Tiwari, advisor (technology) at DoT.

 

In an AI native network architecture, a significant portion of network functions on both the control and user planes are powered by the AI. Technology is embedded in the core architecture enabling unprecedented levels of automation, optimisation, and intelligence. 

 

Officials expect these networks to enable real-time traffic management, which prioritises emergency calls during congestion, alongside proactive maintenance, enabling the fixing of a failing router before it causes outages.

 

Energy savings through the automatic powering down of unused resources at night is another usage.

 

While the full realisation of AI-native networks are envisioned for the 6G era, the next few years are expected to be crucial towards intergovernmental discussions and foundational research on the same.

 

At the World Telecom Standardisation Assembly held in Delhi last October, the ITU had adopted a key resolution on AI after a push by India.

 

ITU is the United Nations’ specialised agency for information and communication technologies (ICT). 

 

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) under DoT is actively contributing to the ITU for developing global standards and has developed one of the world's first standards for assessing fairness in AI, said Avinash Agrawal, deputy director general (international relations) at DoT.

 

As part of its ongoing efforts to amplify its voice in ITU's policymaking, India will also seek re-election to the ITU council in 2026.

 

The government has also announced the candidature of India's Revathi Mannepalli, who already serves in a key ITU organ, for the post of director, radiocommunication bureau, for 2027-2030.

 

The move is key to India's satcom aspirations given the bureau processes applications for frequency assignments and satellite orbital slots, providing satellite coordination services.

 

Case in point — as part of her current work in ITU's Radio Regulations Board (RRB), Revathi has helped nations reclaim satellite rights.

 

In 2023, she had won the elections to the RRB with the support of 139 of 180 countries that voted after the Ministry of External Affairs had asked every Indian mission abroad to campaign on her behalf.

 

The RRB administers frequency allocation to nations and resolves disputes

 

Revathi has nearly 30 years of experience in spectrum management, satellite coordination, and regulatory diplomacy.

 

India has also proposed to host the ITU plenipotentiary summit in 2030, when key global 6G and AI regulations are set to be finalised.