Presenting India’s vision for a sustainable, secure and inclusive global digital future, Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, addressed the High-Level Segment of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) in Baku today.

He reaffirmed India’s civilizational guiding principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—“the world is one family”—and highlighted India’s deep partnership with the ITU, dating back to 1869.

The Minister emphasized that cybersecurity is a shared global responsibility, urging nations to collaborate on resilient, cross-border cybersecurity frameworks.

Showcasing India’s unprecedented digital transformation, he noted that Bharat has emerged as one of the world’s most connected societies, empowering 1.2 billion telecom subscribers, 1 billion internet users, and 1.4 billion digital identities.

He underlined that India’s $4.8 billion last-mile 4G expansion and the world’s fastest 5G rollout—now covering 99% of districts- have set new global standards.

“With some of the world’s lowest data tariffs, among the highest data consumption, and a digital infrastructure that enables 46% of global digital transactions, India has proven that accessibility, affordability, and scale can advance together,” he said.

On cybersecurity, the Minister highlighted India’s citizen-centric safety systems such as Sanchar Saathi and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator, which have collectively blocked 30 million fraudulent mobile connections and prevented 6.6 million financial fraud attempts. “Cybersecurity is no longer a national concern but a global imperative—and India is committed to building trusted, collaborative frameworks that safeguard every digital user,” he said.

Calling for global digital unity, Dr. Chandra Sekhar reaffirmed India’s commitment to partnering closely with all ITU member states. “Just as rivers grow mightier when they flow together, India stands ready to join hands with the global community to build a digital ecosystem that empowers people, protects our planet, and ensures no nation is left behind,” he said.

About WTDC 25

The World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) is held by the International Telecommunication Union’s Development Sector (ITU-D) to set global priorities for expanding and improving telecommunications and digital connectivity. At WTDC, governments, industry leaders and experts come together to agree on strategies, policies and programmes that help countries, especially developing nations, strengthen their ICT infrastructure, bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive digital growth. WTDC-25, which has commenced in Baku, will shape the next cycle of global development actions focused on achieving universal, meaningful and affordable connectivity.

 

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MI/ARJ

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