AI-native telecom networks take center stage as India hosts the ITU FG‑AINN meet in New Delhi, showcasing innovations like Bharat Gen and leading global AI-driven telecom standards.
📡 India’s Strategic Leap in Global Telecom Standards
India recently hosted the 3rd meeting of the ITU‑T Focus Group on AI‑Native Networks (FG‑AINN) from June 11–13, 2025 in New Delhi, organised by the Department of Telecommunications’ Technical Arm – the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC). This prestigious event saw participation from global experts, policymakers, academia, and industry leaders aimed at steering the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into telecom core network architectures
AI‑Native Networks: From Concept to Standard
Unlike traditional telecom which treats AI as an add‑on, AI‑native networks embed AI at the heart of their design. These networks will be capable of self‑optimization, self‑management, and real‑time adaptation, significantly boosting data speeds, connectivity resilience, and reducing call drops—even in remote areas
India’s Home‑grown AI Innovation Showcased
India spotlighted its leadership in AI‑driven telecom by presenting several flagship initiatives:
- Bharat Gen: India’s first multimodal large‑language model (LLM) developed and funded by the government, catering to multiple Indian languages
- Pioneering research by IITs and C‑DOT on network automation and digital twin technology, underlining national commitment to AI‑native infrastructure
Global Voices at the Event
- Seizo Onoe, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, highlighted AI‑native networks’ potential in enabling intelligent orchestration across network domains
- Atsuko Okuda, ITU Asia‑Pacific Regional Director, underlined the Asia‑Pacific region’s role as a digital innovation hub, and stressed collaboration to bridge the digital divide and support AI use in smart cities, healthcare, and education
Diplomatic and Leadership Ambitions
India’s role wasn’t limited to technical discussion—it proposed hosting the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2030 (PP‑30), sought continued membership in the ITU Council for 2027–2031, and nominated Ms M. Revathi as the first woman and regional candidate for Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau (2027–30)
Collaborative Innovation: Build‑a‑Thon 2025
A highlight of the meet was the Build‑a‑Thon 2025, a crowdsourced coding event bringing together researchers, startups, and engineers to co‑develop practical AI‑native telecom solutions, with focus areas including federated learning, AI in 6G networks, autonomous agents, and facial‑recognition SIM verification
Setting the Foundation for Future Telecom
Formed in July 2024 under ITU‑T Study Group 13, FG‑AINN aims to build global standards for embedding AI at the core of telecom architectures. The outcomes of this meeting are expected to influence global telecom evolution, paving the way for intelligent, resilient, and inclusive digital infrastructure
Why This News is Important
📘 Core Exam Relevance
For students preparing for government exams—whether in teaching, police, banking, railways, defence, or civil services—this news is key for Science & Technology, Governance, and International Relations sections. It highlights India’s proactive role in global standard-setting bodies and strategic use of technology for digital supremacy.
📈 Tech‑Governance Intersection
The event underscores the intersection of technology and policy—a recurring theme in public sector exams. It provides concrete examples of how national-level initiatives (like Bharat Gen and AI‑driven automation projects) align with India’s broader digital governance strategies.
💡 Strategic Diplomacy
India’s proposals at the conference—including hosting PP‑30 and nominating M. Revathi—underscore its geopolitical ambitions in international forums. Understanding such diplomatic moves enriches essays, interview discussions, and answers in contemporary affairs sections.
Historical Context: Embedding AI in Telecom
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has long played a pivotal role in global telecom standardisation since its founding in 1865. The FG‑AINN, set up in July 2024 under Study Group 13, represents the latest evolution: integrating AI not as auxiliary, but as intrinsic to network design. With this New Delhi meeting, India asserted leadership in driving technology diplomacy, mirroring past efforts like pushing for global IPv6 adoption and open-source telecom stacks.
AI‑native networks are expected to be transformative: imagine self-healing telecom infrastructure that learns and adapts—this builds on earlier AI implementations in smart grids, e-governance, and agriculture (e.g., PM-WANI, National AI Portal). The current effort thus marks the next step in India’s journey from digital policy adoption to global standard setting.
Key Takeaways from “India Hosts ITU’s FG‑AINN Meet”
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | India hosted the 3rd ITU‑FG‑AINN meeting in New Delhi (11–13 June 2025), shaping global telecom standards. |
| 2 | Bharat Gen: India’s first government-funded multimodal LLM for Indian languages showcased at the event. |
| 3 | India proposed hosting ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2030 and nominated M. Revathi for ITU Radiocommunication Bureau leadership. |
| 4 | The Build‑a‑Thon 2025 boosted practical AI-native telecom solutions involving startups, academia, and engineers. |
| 5 | Discussions focused on federated learning, AI in 6G, autonomous agents, and facial-recognition SIM verification. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is FG‑AINN?
FG‑AINN stands for Focus Group on AI‑Native Networks. It is a group formed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to develop standards and frameworks for integrating artificial intelligence at the core of telecom networks.
Q2. Why is India’s hosting of the FG‑AINN meeting significant?
India’s hosting of the 3rd FG‑AINN meeting highlights the country’s leadership in shaping global telecom standards and demonstrates its commitment to building AI-native digital infrastructure.
Q3. What is Bharat Gen?
Bharat Gen is India’s first government-funded multimodal large language model (LLM) designed to support multiple Indian languages. It showcases India’s AI innovation and was presented during the FG‑AINN meeting.
Q4. What are AI-native networks?
AI-native networks are telecom infrastructures that have AI embedded into their design and operation. These networks can manage and optimize themselves in real time, improving speed, resilience, and user experience.
Q5. What was the purpose of the Build-a-Thon 2025?
The Build-a-Thon 2025 was a collaborative coding event conducted alongside the FG‑AINN meeting to crowdsource practical AI-native telecom solutions, focusing on technologies like 6G, federated learning, and facial-recognition based SIM verification.
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