TRAI, STPI hold pre-summit event on AI in telecommunications

NEW DELHI: Artificial intelligence is no longer a buzzword waiting for its moment in Indian telecom. That moment, regulators and industry leaders agreed, is already here.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, in partnership with Software Technology Parks of India, hosted a pre-summit event in New Delhi on AI in telecommunications, setting the tone for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Held at the STPI conference facility in East Kidwai Nagar, the meet drew policymakers, telecom operators, technology firms, startups and researchers to explore how AI is quietly but decisively rewiring networks and customer experience.

The day began with a ceremonial lamp lighting by senior TRAI and STPI officials, signalling both tradition and transformation. In his opening remarks, STPI director general Arvind Kumar summed up the shift neatly, saying telecom networks have evolved from being mere pipes into intelligent systems. He underlined the need for AI-led innovation ecosystems that bring together startups, academia and industry, adding that the 2026 summit would offer a roadmap for responsible and meaningful AI adoption.

TRAI secretary Atul Kumar Chaudhary followed by highlighting AI’s growing role in improving service quality, while stressing the need for regulatory frameworks that encourage innovation without losing sight of ethics and consumer protection.

The central message came from TRAI chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti, who described AI as a foundational capability for the next phase of India’s telecom journey. From network automation to spam detection, he said, AI is already shaping how services are delivered at scale. The real challenge now is governance. How AI is designed and deployed will decide whether telecom services remain trusted, inclusive and resilient. Transparency, accountability and fairness, he noted, must guide every application.

Special addresses from senior officials of MeitY, Coai, C-Dot and IIT Gandhinagar reinforced the call for collaboration, indigenous AI research and capacity building to support future-ready networks.

Technical sessions brought the discussion down to ground level. Speakers showcased how AI-driven predictive maintenance, traffic optimisation and anomaly detection are helping operators move from firefighting to self-healing networks, especially as 5G and fibre roll out across the country. Use cases ranged from intelligent network slicing and fraud prevention to AI-native architectures built for performance, security and regulatory compliance.

Another session focused on responsible AI in customer-facing services. Discussions covered personalised plans, smarter data packs and targeted offers, alongside AI tools to detect spam calls and filter unsolicited messages. Throughout, participants stressed the importance of data privacy, consumer trust and reducing false positives.

The event concluded on a lighter note, with saplings presented to speakers, but its message was clear. As India prepares for the AI Impact Summit 2026, the telecom sector is already stepping into an AI-powered future, one that aims to be smarter, safer and firmly centred on the consumer.