As India prepares to host the World Telecom Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched the WTSA2024 Outreach Sessions. These sessions, scheduled in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, aim to provide a unique platform for students to engage with industry experts, fostering meaningful knowledge exchange. WTSA 2024, set to take place in India from October 14-24, 2024, marks the first time in the 150-year history of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that the event will be held in India. It will bring together telecom leaders and experts from over 190 countries.
The outreach sessions were held today at Delhi Technical University (Delhi), the Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore), and the Indian Institute of Information Technology (Hyderabad). Prominent dignitaries from ITU, the National Communication Academy, Telecom Engineering Centre, along with senior professors and leading telecom industry experts, engaged students in discussions on WTSA, ITU, and the crucial role of telecom standards in driving global connectivity and innovation. The sessions highlighted how standardization supports the deployment of technologies like 5G and the upcoming 6G, ensuring interoperability and shaping the future of global telecommunications.
India has an opportunity to shape the future of telecom at #ITUWTSA
— DoT India (@DoT_India) September 30, 2024
@ITU @IndiaUNGeneva pic.twitter.com/Y2mF5k0bwW
More than 500 students attended the sessions physically across the three institutes, with over 450 participants joining online. The sessions offered young minds insights into the importance of telecom standards and their role in positioning India as a leader in the telecom sector, while also explaining how they can contribute to the future of telecommunications.
Key speakers included Deb Kumar Chakrabarti, Director General of the National Communication Academy; R.R. Mittar, WTSA-24 Chair Designate; Prof. Prateek Sharma, Vice Chancellor of DTU; Prof. Bharadwaj Amrutur, Director of ArtPark at IISc; along with Atul Sinha, Rajesh Gupta, and Avinash Agarwal, Deputy DGs at DoT. Interacting with the media, Hemendra K Sharma, DoT Spokesperson, emphasized that hosting WTSA-2024 is an opportunity for India to influence the global telecom agenda as the world prepares for advancements like 6G and beyond.
Following the outreach session, DoT also launched the 5G-6G Hackathon 2024. The hackathon aims to identify and promote innovations and applications tailored to India’s specific needs, encouraging the development of next-generation telecom technologies. The event attracted a diverse group of participants from government, academia, and industry, who will work on India-specific use cases leveraging 5G, 6G, and related technologies.
