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Telecom to Power India's AI Future as Digital Backbone, Says COAI

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has positioned telecommunications as the critical backbone for India's AI ambitions at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. In collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications and STPI, the summit highlighted that AI's future is an infrastructure challenge reliant on robust digital networks. Experts agreed that scaling AI in governance and industry requires advanced, low-latency telecom networks like 5G-Advanced and 6G. The event served as a call to invest in intelligent, future-ready networks that can process data at the edge to power an inclusive, AI-driven economy.

Key Points: Telecom to Power India's AI Future, Declares COAI at Summit

  • Telecom is AI's indispensable backbone
  • AI scaling needs low-latency, high-bandwidth networks
  • Integration of Compute, Connectivity, and Data is key
  • Universal digital access is vital for "AI-Powered Bharat"
2 min read

Telecom will power India's AI future: COAI at India AI Impact Summit 2026

COAI, with DoT & STPI, declares telecom the backbone of India's AI future, stressing the need for robust 5G/6G networks for AI scaling.

"The convergence of compute and connectivity is the new electricity for the digital age. - COAI"

New Delhi, February 18

The Cellular Operators Association of India has positioned telecommunications as the indispensable backbone of the nation's technological evolution, declaring that "Telecom will power India's AI future" during the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

In a strategic collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), the COAI hosted high-level sessions focused on the synergy between next-generation networks and artificial intelligence. The summit underscored a pivotal shift: AI is no longer just a software play, but a physical infrastructure challenge that relies heavily on the robustness of India's digital highways.

The summit featured two flagship sessions, "Generative AI and Future Networks" and "AI-Powered Bharat through Universal Digital Connectivity." These discussions brought together a powerhouse of policymakers and industry titans to map out how 5G-Advanced and emerging 6G frameworks will handle the massive data demands of GenAI.

The sessions highlighted several crucial insights for India's AI journey. Participants reached a consensus that AI scaling, whether in governance or private industry, is impossible without low-latency, high-bandwidth telecom networks.

Experts also emphasised that the next decade will be defined by the seamless integration of Compute, Connectivity, and Data.

Finally, the discussions highlighted the importance of universal access, stressing that digital connectivity must be ubiquitous to achieve an "AI-Powered Bharat," ensuring that AI-driven tools in healthcare and agriculture reach the last mile.

The collaboration between the DoT, STPI, and COAI signals a unified front in India's bid to become a global AI hub. By integrating AI capabilities directly into the network fabric, telecom operators are moving beyond being mere "pipe providers" to becoming active enablers of intelligence.

As per the statement by COAI, "The convergence of compute and connectivity is the new electricity for the digital age. Our networks are the nervous system that will carry the intelligence of AI to every corner of the country."

As India moves toward a more automated and data-driven economy, the summit served as a call to action for stakeholders to invest in "future-ready" infrastructure. The roadmap involves not just faster internet, but "intelligent" networks capable of real-time processing at the edge.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Hoping this leads to tangible action. My father is a farmer in Punjab. If AI tools for soil health and crop prediction can reach him via a strong network, it would be revolutionary. The focus on healthcare and agriculture is spot on. Jai Kisan!
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Rohit P
Good to see COAI, DoT, and STPI on the same page. But let's be honest, the current 5G experience in many areas is still patchy. Before we talk 6G and AI, can we please get consistent, affordable data without drops in metro cities themselves? A bit skeptical.
S
Sarah B
The analogy of networks being the "nervous system" is powerful. The integration of compute and connectivity is indeed the next big leap. India has a massive data advantage; coupling that with robust telecom infra can make us a true global hub. Exciting times!
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Vikram M
Universal digital connectivity is the key. We can't have a digital India where only urban centers benefit. The last-mile focus is crucial. Hope the investment follows the vision. BharatNet and such projects need to be supercharged.
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Karthik V
As a software engineer, I'm thrilled. Moving from 'pipe providers' to 'active enablers of intelligence' means telecom companies will have to build new skill sets. This will create so many new job opportunities in network AI and edge computing. Future is bright!

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