Union Minister of State for Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar addressing a high-level World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) in Baku on Monday.
India presented itself as a global leader in digital inclusion and secure connectivity at the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) in Baku on Monday, with Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Shekhar exhorting states to embrace “digital solidarity” and build a safer and more inclusive future, according to a Press Information Bureau and Gutura Bureau (PIB) statement. Dr. Addressing the high-level segment, Chandra Shekhar said India’s digital transformation shows that “accessibility, affordability and scale can move forward together”, highlighting that the country has become one of the most connected societies in the world – powering 1.2 billion telecom subscribers, 1 billion internet users and 1.4 billion digital identities. Reaffirming India’s long-standing partnership with the ITU dating back to its membership in 1869, he invoked the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and emphasized that “the world is one family” in the digital age. The Minister showcased India’s rapid technological advancements, highlighting the $4.8 billion 4G last mile initiative and the world’s fastest 5G rollout, which now covers 99% of districts. Exceptionally low data tariffs, high data consumption and India accounting for 46% of global digital transactions reflect the country’s scalable public digital infrastructure, he noted. Dr. Chandra Shekhar called cyber security a “shared global imperative” and highlighted citizen protection platforms such as Sanchar Saathi and Financial Fraud Risk Indicator, which blocked 30 million fraudulent mobile connections and prevented 6.6 million financial fraud attempts. He reiterated India’s commitment to work with ITU member states to build trusted, resilient and environmentally sustainable digital ecosystems.
Published – 17 Nov 2025 20:30 IST
