India is hosting the third meeting of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU-T) Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence Native for Telecommunication Networks (FG-AINN), marking a significant step toward the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into next-generation telecom systems. Organized by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the three-day event underscores India’s growing influence in shaping global standards for AI-native networks.

During the opening session, Mr. Sanjeev Bidwai, Member (T) of the Digital Communications Commission, underscored that AI-native networks signify a groundbreaking strategy for telecom infrastructure. He pointed out India’s significant initiatives in this area, which include the creation of Bharat Gen, the nation’s first government-funded multimodal large language model for Indian languages. He also mentioned ongoing efforts by IITs and C-DOT that focus on automation powered by AI and digital twin technologies. Bidwai emphasized the necessity for ethical AI deployment, ensuring digital sovereignty, explainability, and the development of regulatory frameworks.

Seizo Onoe, Director of the ITU’s Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau, warned of the transformative possibilities that AI-native networks hold for enabling automation, self-management, and real-time optimization, all critical for addressing future connectivity needs.

Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director of ITU Asia-Pacific, acknowledged the Asia-Pacific region's pivotal role in digital innovation. She stressed the significance of AI-native networks in fostering smart, secure, and inclusive communication infrastructure. Ms. Okuda also urged for joint efforts to overcome the digital divide and hasten AI adoption across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and urban development.

India also utilized the platform to propose being the host for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2030 (PP-30) and reaffirmed its candidacy for continued membership on the ITU Council for the 2027–2031 terms. Notably, India has nominated M. Revathi as a candidate for the Director of the ITU Radio communication Bureau (2027–2030), which could mark a significant milestone as she would be the first woman and first regional nominee for this post.

The event is attended by high-ranking officials such as Niraj Verma, Rudra Narayan Palai, Deb Kumar Chakrabarty, Shubhendu Tiwari, and Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay. Scholars, industry leaders, and international delegates are also actively engaging in the discussions.

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A key feature of the event is the FG-AINN Build-a-Thon 2025, set for 13 June. This collaborative coding competition will bring together participants from academia, industry, and startups to create AI-native telecom solutions. Sessions throughout the conference will cover topics such as federated learning, AI in 6G, autonomous agents, and SIM verification through facial recognition, among others.