Spotlight on National Technology Day | TelecomDrive.com
National Technology Day, observed on May 11, commemorates India’s technological advancements, particularly the Pokhran nuclear tests of 1998. For the telecom sector, this day holds immense significance as it symbolizes innovation, digital transformation, and infrastructure development.
With India emerging as the world’s second-largest telecom market, National Technology Day serves as a reminder of the sector’s critical role in driving economic growth, connectivity, and technological self-reliance.
Telecom Sector’s Evolution: A Pillar for Digital India
The telecom industry has been a cornerstone of India’s digital revolution, enabling:
– Mass mobile penetration (over 1.2 billion subscribers).
– Affordable internet access (cheapest data rates globally).
– 5G rollout, transforming industries like healthcare, education, and fintech.
The government’s Digital India initiatives and policies like National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018 have accelerated telecom growth, fostering innovation and competition.
Key Contributions of Telecom to India’s Tech Advancement
1. Bridging the Digital Divide – Telecom networks have connected rural and urban India, enabling financial inclusion (UPI, AePS) and e-governance services.
2. 5G & IoT Revolution – The launch of 5G in 2022 positioned India as a leader in next-gen connectivity, supporting smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and Industry 4.0.
3. Startup & Enterprise Growth – High-speed internet has fueled startups like Jio Platforms, Airtel IQ, and telecom-backed SaaS solutions.
4. Atmanirbhar Bharat in Telecom – Indigenous 4G/5G stacks (developed by C-DOT and Reliance Jio) reduce dependency on foreign technology.
Government & Private Sector Initiatives Boosting Telecom
– PLI Scheme for Telecom Equipment – Promoting local manufacturing of routers, switches, and 5G gear.
– BharatNet Project – Expanding fiber connectivity to 600,000 villages.
– Telecom Reform Package (2021) – Easing regulations, encouraging FDI, and improving ease of business.
– Private Sector Investments – Companies like Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea are driving R&D in AI-driven networks, OpenRAN, and edge computing.
The Road Ahead
– 6G Development – India is already participating in global 6G research.
– Rural Telecom Expansion – Untapped markets offer growth potential.
– Enterprise & Cloud Services – Demand for secure, high-speed business connectivity is rising.
National Technology Day underscores the telecom sector’s role in shaping a digitally empowered, self-reliant India. With continued investments in 5G, rural connectivity, and indigenous tech, the industry is set to drive India’s $1 trillion digital economy vision .
As stakeholders—government, businesses, and innovators—celebrate this day, collaboration will be key to overcoming challenges and ensuring India remains a big global telecom enabler and leader. By fostering innovation and inclusive growth, the telecom sector will remain at the heart of India’s technological transformation.
Here is what some industry leaders are saying this National Technology Day:
Pravir Dahiya, Chief Technology Officer, Tata Teleservices, says, “On National Technology Day, we reaffirm our commitment to building a digitally resilient India. As enterprises accelerate their digital transformation journeys, the convergence of cloud, AI and intelligent networks is redefining how businesses operate, innovate, and connect with customers. At Tata Tele Business Services, we are bridging the gap between legacy systems and next-gen technologies—empowering businesses to scale scale smarter, innovate securely, and stay future-ready. Technology is not just a tool; it’s a catalyst for inclusive growth and we are proud to lead this shift with purpose, agility, and a customer-first mindset.”
Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India, said, “India’s technology sector continues to be a strong pillar showcasing prominent and immense growth, powered by innovation in semiconductors, connectivity, and digital infrastructure. India ranks 39th in the Global Innovation Index (GII), which presents vast opportunities for developing advanced, innovative and sustainable technologies which will help drive the country’s digital vision forward. At MediaTek, we believe that fostering local R&D, strengthening the semiconductor ecosystem, and investing in skill development will be key to supporting India’s ambitions as a global innovation hub.”
Raja Mansukhani, Chief Strategy, Technology, and Transformation Officer, Comviva, said, “On this National Technology Day, we celebrate India’s extraordinary journey in becoming a global hub for technological innovation. Over the past decade, the country has witnessed a surge in entrepreneurial spirit, with a thriving startup ecosystem and a bold embrace of emerging technologies such as AI/ML, Blockchain, and IoT. These advancements have firmly established India as a key player in shaping the global tech landscape. At Comviva, we believe that true innovation stems from empowered people and transformative ideas. That’s why we are deeply committed to nurturing local talent partnering with leading universities to equip the next generation with hands on experience in cutting edge technologies. By harnessing the power of AI, ML, and other next-gen tools, we are driving end-to-end digital transformation and delivering meaningful, future ready solutions to our customers across the globe. In an increasingly connected and digital first world, we remain focused on making technology more human centric, impactful, and inclusive.”
“This National Technology Day we have witnessed how technology has empowered the evolving nature of modern warfare, placing drone technology at the forefront of defense strategy. Recent conflicts, including tensions along the India-Pakistan border, have highlighted how unmanned aerial systems are no longer optional—they are essential. Drones today are playing a pivotal role in surveillance and frontline intelligence gathering, helping our forces respond faster and more effectively while minimizing risk to human life. The growth of India’s indigenous drone sector highlights the need for ‘Atmanirbharta’ and positions the country as a global hub for drone technology innovation. We remain committed to building future-ready technology that empowers lives, and support India’s vision of technological sovereignty,” commented, Prem Kumar Vislawath, CEO and Co-Founder, Marut Drones.
Sajan Paul, Area Vice President & Country Manager, India & SAARC, Juniper Networks, said, “India’s rapid digital transformation is reshaping industries, empowering communities, and creating new opportunities for innovation and growth. From AI to cloud computing and next-generation connectivity, technology is becoming the backbone of progress. As networks grow in complexity and data demands increase, the need for smart, secure, and reliable infrastructure is more important than ever. National Tech Day is a reminder of how technology can drive meaningful change and support a more inclusive and resilient future.
At Juniper Networks, we are proud to support this journey. Our AI-native networking solutions help businesses, service providers, and governments stay ahead by making networks easier to manage, more secure, and ready for what’s next. With a strong focus on security, automation, and energy efficiency, we are working to ensure that digital progress is both impactful and sustainable. As a global core technology provider, we are also committed to driving innovation in partnership with a world class talent pool, further strengthening the sovereignty of India.
Looking ahead, our goal is simple. We aim to help build networks that are smarter, safer, and more adaptable. Networks that connect people, power innovation, and help shape a better tomorrow.”
Naveen Nahar, VP of Marketing, ACT Fibernet, commented, “National Technology Day is a reminder of how deeply innovation has become part of our daily lives. Whether we are working from home, streaming a show, chatting with our loved ones or helping our kids attend online classes, we rely on strong, dependable connectivity. The tangible progress in technology today is about making these everyday moments smoother and effortless — through networks that are faster, smarter, and built around people’s needs.”
Sriram Kannan, Founder & CEO, Routematic, said, “National Technology Day is a celebration of India’s spirit of innovation, a force that continues to shape a more sustainable and resilient future. This year’s theme, ‘Empowering a Sustainable Tomorrow Through Innovation,’ deeply aligns with Routematic’s mission. As we pioneer AI and data driven, eco-conscious mobility solutions, we witness every day how technology can reimagine urban transport, making it cleaner, smarter, and more efficient. At Routematic, we are proud to contribute to India’s technological evolution and remain committed to building solutions that not only move people, but also advance the nation toward a greener, more sustainable tomorrow.”
Ganesh Gopalan, Co-Founder & CEO, Gnani.ai, said, “National Technology Day is a celebration of India’s relentless pursuit of innovation, and a reminder of how technology can be a force multiplier for inclusive growth. Today, breakthroughs in Voice AI, multilingual large language models (LLMs), and agentic AI are empowering enterprises to build smarter, more human-centric solutions. From revolutionizing customer support and financial services to enabling real-time healthcare assistance in regional languages, AI is reshaping how industries operate and interact. As India’s digital ecosystem accelerates, it is crucial that innovation remains responsible, ethical, and tailored to local as well as global needs. At Gnani.ai, we are proud to lead this movement through deep tech innovation, pioneering cutting-edge voice and agentic AI platforms that combine scale, speed, and contextual intelligence to power the next generation of enterprise automation.”
Rupesh Kumar, Co-Founder & CTO, Suhora Technologies, said, “As we celebrate National Technology Day, we honor India’s remarkable journey in science and technology and its growing leadership on the global innovation map. Today, technology is no longer confined to research labs; it is permeating every aspect of our lives, from defence and national security to smart farming and sustainable cities to precision healthcare and digital finance. The space industry, particularly the downstream segment, is no exception. AI is now revolutionizing the way we process and analyze Earth observation data, making it faster, smarter, accurate and more efficient. Our platform, SPADE, is designed to harness this very potential, leveraging AI and deep learning to transform how satellite data is accessed, tasked, and analysed. As we move ahead in our tech innovation journey, we plan to introduce advanced features, including the use of Agentic AI and LLMs to automate satellite data access and processing through natural language commands, transforming workflows and accelerating real-world impact, from national security to disaster response. With India’s downstream space sector projected to reach USD 610 billion by 2031, we believe homegrown AI-driven innovations will be key to addressing such critical challenges and reinforcing the nation’s vision of technology-led inclusive growth.”
Karthik Rajaram, Area Vice President & General Manager, Elastic India, commented, “National Technology Day is a powerful reminder of India’s progress as a technology-first nation. As data volumes surge and AI adoption accelerates, organisations must effectively search, analyse, and act on their data in real time. At Elastic, we harness the power of search to solve complex problems across AI, security, and observability. We proudly support India’s innovation-led growth story by making data usable and actionable for everyone. Together, we can unlock new possibilities by transforming data into answers and actions, and drive meaningful innovation and outcomes with Search AI.”
Pinkesh Kotecha, MD & Chairman, Ishan Technologies, said, “India’s digital transformation is not just underway, it is accelerating with intent. Flagship initiatives like Digital India, India Stack, and the Smart Cities Mission are not merely laying the groundwork; they are architecting a future where technology powers inclusive, sustainable growth. As cities modernize, technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and edge connectivity are transforming urban India into intelligent, secure, and responsive ecosystems.
The projected $1 trillion contribution of AI to India’s GDP by 2035 is only possible if innovation is rooted in ethics. We must prioritize inclusivity, transparency, and resilience in AI deployment. Under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, India is not only striving for self-reliance, but it is also positioning itself as a global destination for digital infrastructure, from data centers to cybersecurity. Technology must ultimately serve as a bridge—closing the digital divide and empowering every Indian citizen.”
“National Technology Day is a powerful reminder of how strategic innovation when driven by a clear purpose, can be a game-changer for our nation’s trajectory. At Fulcrum Digital, we view this day as reaffirming our mission to harness the convergence of AI, cloud computing, and emerging technologies to drive enterprise transformation.
Small and mid-size enterprises are now competing on the global stage, driven by India’s rapid advancement. AI is redefining business models, enhancing decision-making, and fostering inclusive growth. Our FD RYZE platform exemplifies this by enabling organizations to build intelligent ecosystems that are adaptive, scalable, and aligned with sustainable development goals.
However, as we integrate AI deeper into our systems, ethical considerations become paramount. We advocate for transparent, explainable, and unbiased AI systems that uphold the highest standards of integrity and fairness. At its core, this means creating technology that people can trust: systems that help doctors make more accurate diagnoses, enable farmers to make data-driven crop decisions, and support educators in personalizing learning for every student. When AI is built responsibly, it becomes a force that uplifts lives, bridges gaps, and ensures no one is left behind in the digital future.
India’s vibrant tech ecosystem, combined with its diverse talent pool, positions us uniquely to lead in responsible and inclusive tech development. As we commemorate this day, we remain committed to empowering businesses with intelligent solutions that not only solve complex challenges but also contribute positively to society at large,” said, Sachin Panicker, Chief AI Officer, Fulcrum Digital.
Picture Courtesy: Pixabay.com
