The Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia alongwith Minister of State for Communications Dr.  Chandra S. Pemmasani, and Secretary (Telecom) Dr. Neeraj Mittal, chaired a high-level Roundtable Conference with State Government IT Ministers and IT Secretaries, held on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress 2025.

The conference served as a dynamic platform for Centre–State collaboration to accelerate digital infrastructure development and strengthen India’s digital public goods ecosystem. Key discussions focused on enhancing last-mile connectivity, expediting 4G and 5G rollout in rural and remote areas, promoting indigenous technologies, and aligning state policies with the national digital vision.

Speaking at the Roundtable, Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia underlined India’s emergence as a global digital powerhouse, noting the unprecedented growth in internet connectivity, broadband access and data affordability. He emphasised the role of cooperative federalism in driving this transformation and urged states to work in close partnership with the Centre to accelerate infrastructure rollout, adopt best practices, and implement Right-of-Way reforms swiftly. Highlighting successful state-level initiatives, he encouraged cross-learning and collaboration to scale innovative models nationwide, ensuring that the benefits of digitisation reach citizens across every corner of the country.

The Union Minister added that “India has risen like a phoenix in the space of telecom, digital inclusion and equipment manufacturing on the world stage. Our journey from being regulators to becoming facilitators is enabling us to deliver the much-required connectivity, inclusion and equity to every single citizen.” He added that “ The digital economy’s share in India’s GDP is set to touch 20% by 2029-30 — a transformation powered not just by the Centre but by the collective energy of all States. We must seize this opportunity together to build a resilient, inclusive and future-ready digital ecosystem.”

Sharing his thoughts, Minister of State Dr. Chandra S. Pemmasani highlighted the pivotal role of Right-of-Way (RoW) reforms in achieving India’s ambitious digital connectivity targets. He outlined the key provisions of the new Telecommunication Right-of-Way Rules 2025, including single-window clearances, time-bound approvals, uniform cost-based charges, infrastructure sharing, and integration of digital corridors in urban planning. Emphasising the need for coordinated action by states, he urged IT Ministers and Secretaries to operationalise these reforms swiftly to unblock network expansion and bring high-quality digital services to every citizen. He reiterated that the success of National Broadband Mission 2.0 depends on collective leadership and timely execution at the state level.

Dr.  Pemmasani further said, “History will not ask whether we had the technology, it will ask whether we had the will. The vision of universal, affordable and high-quality broadband for all under National Broadband Mission 2.0 is within our reach. The Telecommunication Right-of-Way Rules 2025 give us the means to realise this vision.”

Secretary (Telecom) Dr. Neeraj Mittal underlined the crucial role of states in the successful rollout of digital infrastructure. Highlighting that telecom is a central subject but its implementation is state-driven, he stressed the importance of state cooperation in resolving ground-level challenges such as right of way, land allocation, and site access. “Nothing can happen without state cooperation on the ground. While telecom is a central subject, actual implementation happens in the states. Issues like right of way, land for towers, site access, and local law and order need close coordination. This forum is invaluable for receiving feedback from state ministers and secretaries, and for jointly enabling telecom as a horizontal technology powering every sector of economic development”, he added.

The Roundtable provided a vital platform for Centre–State dialogue to identify bottlenecks, incorporate state feedback into policy frameworks, and collectively strengthen the digital backbone that supports economic growth and development across sectors. The event concluded with a shared commitment to work collectively towards a robust, secure, and future-ready digital ecosystem, ensuring the benefits of connectivity reach every citizen across the country.

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Samrat/ Allen/ Murali