On 11 June 2025, India hosted the 3rd meeting of the International Telecommunication Union – Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence Native for Telecommunication Networks (FG-AINN) in New Delhi(Delhi), to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving telecom network efficiency.
- The three-day event, held from 11-13 June 2025, was organised by the New Delhi based Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications (MoC), Government of India (GoI).
Key Highlights:
i.The FG-AINN meeting aims to redefine telecommunication networks by embedding AI at the core of network architecture.
ii.The sessions at the FG-AINN Meeting covered a wide range of cutting-edge topics focused on the application of AI and Machine Learning(ML) in future communication networks.
- Key themes include federated learning for telecom, AI/ML models for next-gen wireless systems, AI in 6G(sixth-generation) use cases, autonomous AI agents, and facial recognition-based Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) verification.
iii.It addresses the evolving role of AI in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards and includes discussions on network automation and AI-led applications such as smart cities, digital healthcare, and disaster-aware communication systems.
iv.India showcased ‘Bharat Gen’, India’s first indigenously developed AI-based Multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) for Indian languages.
- Additionally, it showcased efforts by Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) in advancing AI-driven network automation and digital twin technologies.
v.Ethical, inclusive, and secure deployment of AI in telecom networks was emphasized, with a focus on explainability, digital sovereignty, and the evolution of regulatory frameworks.
India Bids to Host ITU PP-30:
During the event, India also proposed to host the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference 2030 (ITU PP-30) and sought continued membership in the ITU Council for 2027-2031.
- Furthermore, India nominated M. Revathi, Joint Wireless Advisor (JWA), DoT, MoC, as a candidate for the position of Director, ITU Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) (2027–2030), marking the first time a woman and regional candidate has been proposed for this role.
FG-AINN Build-a-Thon 2025:
On 13th June 2025, the event concluded with the FG-AINN Build-a-Thon 2025, a collaborative coding competition focused on developing Proof of Concepts (PoCs) for AI-native telecom solutions.
- Organised under the FG-AINN, the event brings together experts from academia, industry, and startups for interactive sessions, mentoring, and hands-on development.
i.Participants received travel reimbursement up to Rs. 15,000 and accommodation at the National Communication Academy (NCA), Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh, UP).
ii.The Build-a-Thon is expected to strengthen international cooperation and promote practical AI-native telecom applications.
About Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence Native for Telecommunication Networks (FG-AINN):
FG-AINN, established in July 2024 by ITU-T Study Group 13, explores the structural transformation of telecommunication networks to fully utilize AI capabilities.
- Its goal is to provide standards and recommendations for future telecom systems that integrate AI for enhanced automation, adaptability, and efficiency.
About International Telecommunication Union (ITU):
Secretary-General – Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Established – 1865
