The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), an industry body representing major telecom companies like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea (Vi), and others, has identified artificial intelligence (AI) and 6G as key growth drivers for the sector. Across India, businesses are increasingly incorporating AI into their operations to enhance efficiency and cut costs.
“India is now poised to lead the global race towards 6G, with an exciting opportunity to drive technological leadership. Through initiatives like the Bharat 6G Vision, the government aims to generate 10% of 6G patents from India and is currently reviewing 470 proposals under the ‘Accelerated Research on 6G Ecosystem’ program,” said Dr. S.P. Kochhar, Director General of COAI.
Challenges Highlighted by COAI
While these growth areas present significant opportunities, the telecom sector also faces notable challenges. COAI has called for contributions from large traffic generators (LTGs), such as OTT (Over-the-Top) platforms, to the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). According to COAI, LTGs generate substantial data traffic, compelling telcos to invest heavily in infrastructure, while most revenues from LTGs are processed outside India, resulting in lost tax revenues for the government.
Additionally, COAI has emphasized the need for regulatory oversight of OTT communication platforms and the allocation of the 6 GHz spectrum band for future 5G and 6G deployment. Another pressing concern is the stringent Quality of Service (QoS) norms recently introduced by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
“TSPs view the newly proposed QoS norms, including monthly and site-to-cell level reporting, as impractical and overly burdensome,” COAI stated.
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Concerns Over D2M and Spectrum Auctions
COAI also raised concerns about the Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technology, advocating for transparent auctions of the sub-GHz (526-582 MHz) spectrum. The association argues that integrating this spectrum into telecom networks would maintain fair competition. Furthermore, COAI has dismissed the need for a dedicated D2M network for disaster alerts, stating that cellular networks already efficiently deliver alerts via the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) platform.
As India drives forward in AI and 6G advancements, addressing these challenges will be crucial for sustainable growth and the sector’s technological leadership.
