NCA, DoT and GSMA forge strategic partnership for policy development, research and training in the telecommunications sector
October 8, 2025, New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), National Communications Academy (NCA) and GSM Association (GSMA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, New Delhi, in the presence of Hon'ble Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Secretary (Telecom), Dr. Neeraj Mittal.
The MoU was formally signed by Vivek Badrinath, Director General of GSMA, and Atul Sinha, Director General of NCA. Also present on the occasion were Mr. John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO) of GSMA, and Mr. Julian Gorman, Head of APAC at GSMA.
The MoU establishes a broad framework for cooperation between NCA and GSMA in the areas of policy development, research, training and capacity building in the telecommunications sector. The collaboration aims to strengthen India's Digital India vision by enhancing institutional capabilities, advancing regulatory best practices and promoting adoption of next-generation technologies for sustainable digital transformation.
Under this partnership, NCA and GSMA will work together to:
- Undertake joint research, analysis and training initiatives to promote digital inclusion and socio-economic development, focusing on bridging the digital divide, fostering sustainability and supporting India's growth as a digital economy.
- Collaborate on emerging technologies such as 5G, 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), quantum communications and spectrum management.
- Facilitate workshops, knowledge exchange programs and international exposure to develop leadership and expertise in telecommunications policies and regulations.
This partnership is expected to further enhance India's participation in global telecom policy and standards forums, while contributing to the country's goals of self-reliance and innovation in the telecom sector.
sh. Atul Sinha DG NCA-T in his opening remarks highlighted that “Today we formalize a partnership that is simple in its design but transformative in its promise: to build the next generation of policy and regulatory capacity for India's digital communications sector, at scale, with speed and to global standards. This MoU is important because networks are no longer mere public utilities; they are the operating system of our economy, driving inclusion, innovation, public services and national security.”
Speaking on the occasion of Sh. Vivek Badrinath, CEO of GSMA, said: “We are delighted to work with the National Academy of Communications and the Department of Telecommunications to drive this joint commitment to policy, training and capacity development. It is a crucial step in realizing the vision of Digital India and together we aim to strengthen the nation's leadership in digital innovation and bring the benefits of mobile technology to millions of people.”
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