The Fifth Global Standards Symposium (GSS-24) was inaugurated by Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi this morning, marking a historic event for the Asia-Pacific region. This landmark symposium, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), brought together about 1500 leading policymakers and experts including global ministers from across the globe to discuss the future of digital transformation and the critical role of international standards in enabling the next wave of emerging technologies. GSS 24 is sets the agenda for the WTSA 2024, which is being hosted for the first time in India and a first for all of the Asia-Pacific.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, said, “innovation with thrive not in isolation but in harmony.” The Union Minister also spoke about India’s success with new technology as it rolled out 5G across 36 states and union territories within a span of just 22 months, covering 98 percent of all the districts and its Global Stack – Unified Payment Interface, Aadhar card system and the Digi Locker which stores about 6.75 billion documents serving 300 million users. The roll out of 5G is expected to inject 450 billion dollars into the economy by 2040, minister added.

Emphasising India’s role as a global hub for telecommunications and digital innovation, Mr Scindia said, “This historic gathering signifies a pivotal moment for India. We will be driving the future of global standards, ensuring connectivity for all and showcasing our tech prowess”.

On the subject of challenges posed by new age-technologies, the Minister emphasised, ‘’For AI to serve as a force for good, we must address concerns related to privacy, bias, and transparency. Its deployment must be guided by ethical considerations and robust regulatory frameworks’’.

The inaugural session was attended by Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, India, Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary -General ITU, Mr. Seizo Onoe, Director, Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau, ITU, Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, India.

Dr. Raj Kumar Upadhyay, CEO and Chairman Project Board at Centre for Development of Telematics chaired the GSS-24.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the ITU emphasized the critical role of standards in the current global context, “At the highest levels of global governance, standards are top of mind. They are more than mere technical specifications; they foster interoperability, promise innovation, and crucially, can serve as safeguards, ensuring that technology, including artificial intelligence, is developed and deployed responsibly.”

Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), India, highlighted the symposium’s significance in shaping the future of telecommunications. Stating that “the work we do here will decide the future of telecom”, Dr Mittal emphasized India’s commitment to leading the standardization path forward, focusing on “interoperability, scalability, and security”.

Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), chaired the event and delivered address on the future of digital transformation. He emphasized the critical role of today’s discussions in shaping tomorrow’s technological landscape, stating, “What we make today will define how AI serves our humanity. Our discussions are more than just conversations; they are building blocks of our shared digital future.”

ITU-GSS will set the stage for the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), taking place from 15 to 24 October 2024 in New Delhi, India. This event, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and hosted by Department of Telecommunication (DoT) will be held for the first time in India and the Asia-Pacific

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