ETTelecom

Because the next phase of telecom will not be defined by rollout numbers, but by how meaningful the experience becomes.

But perhaps the most important shift is this: Consumers are no longer choosing networks based on price or speed. They are choosing based on reliability, safety, and control.

“We rolled out 5G at record speed. But did we deliver its true value?” That honest reflection came from Debjit Chakraborty, Member, Department of Telecommunications, at ETTelecom The 5G Congress 2026. Know more: telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/5g-congress #ETTelecom #5GCongress #5G #Telecom

What stood out was the shift in priorities. Connectivity built the digital economy. Trust will sustain it. Because in a world of AI, data, and always-on networks, the real infrastructure is not just fiber or spectrum. It is confidence.

* But the biggest threat is trust. With nearly half of users experiencing scams, telecom networks must evolve into platforms that actively protect users, not just connect them.

"Coverage is no longer the challenge. Trust is" At ETTelecom The 5G Congress 2026, Rahul Vatts, CRO, Airtel & Director, OneWeb, brought a sharp reality check to the telecom narrative. Know more: telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/5g-congress #ETTelecom #5GCongress #5G #Telecom #DigitalTransformation

What stood out was the clarity of direction. This is not about incremental progress. It is about rewriting India’s role in the global tech order. Because the real transformation is not in networks or devices, but in a nation deciding it will no longer follow, only lead.

* And the foundation is collaborative. Startups, policymakers, enterprises, and engineers are all part of one ecosystem driving this transformation.

“India didn’t just catch up in telecom. It decided to lead.” That conviction came through strongly in the address by Shri Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Communications, at ETTelecom The 5G Congress 2026. Know more: telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/5g-congress #ETTelecom #5GCongress

What made the discussion honest was this: Building AI-ready networks is not the hardest part. Building sustainable business models around them is. Because the future of telecom will not just depend on technology adoption, but on who captures the value it creates.

* The biggest question is monetization. As AI traffic grows, telecom players must rethink business models, partnerships, and how value is captured across the ecosystem.

“AI is not just changing networks. It is redefining what networks are built for.” That was the underlying tension in the panel on 5G AI: Scaling Mobile Networks & Cloud Infrastructure at ETTelecom The 5G Congress 2026. Know more: telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/5g-congress #ETTelecom #5GCongress