**Executive Summary**
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) hosted a session on “Responsible AI in Telecom” at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on February 20, 2026. The session focused on policy and operational approaches for AI deployment in telecom networks and consumer-facing applications, emphasizing digital resilience, governance, and network transformation. It included panel discussions and deliberations involving stakeholders from various sectors.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Session Overview:**
* TRAI organized the session at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
* The theme was “Responsible AI in Telecom.”
* Participants included representatives from telecom service providers, technology companies, industry associations, and government institutions.
* **Key Discussion Points:**
* AI is becoming integral to telecom network design and management.
* Trust, transparency, accountability, and human oversight are critical for AI rollout.
* Telecom networks are a central pillar of India's AI infrastructure.
* AI is being used to optimize network performance, predict faults, enhance energy efficiency, and combat fraud.
* Discussions included responsible incorporation of AI capabilities and sustaining customer trust.
* The need to embed responsibility by design, ensure environmental sustainability, and strengthen security in AI deployment was highlighted.
* AI standards should encompass analysis of AI-related failures.
* **TRAI's Commitments:**
* TRAI reiterated its commitment to a risk-based regulatory approach.
* Regulatory sandbox-based testing will be used to enable innovation.
* Consumer rights and public interest will be safeguarded.
**Impact Analysis**
**Telecom Service Providers**
*Impact:*
Impacted by the discussions on responsible AI deployment in telecom networks, including the need for transparency, accountability, and security. New standards for AI adoption and incident management may require procedural and operational changes.
*Action Required:*
Should implement practices that ensure transparency, accountability, security, and ethical governance frameworks in AI deployment. Standards need to be adopted.
**Global Technology Companies**
*Impact:*
The session provided a platform for them to discuss innovative pathways for scaling AI responsibly and contribute to the development of AI standards.
*Action Required:*
Continue to collaborate with regulators and industry to develop and deploy AI responsibly and ethically.
**Industry Associations**
*Impact:*
Need to be aware of the deliberations on responsible AI adoption and contribute to shaping the ethical governance frameworks.
*Action Required:*
Engage with regulatory bodies and technology companies to promote responsible AI practices.
**Government Institutions**
*Impact:*
Involved in policy discussions regarding AI deployment in telecom, influencing the direction of AI adoption.
*Action Required:*
Implement policies that support responsible AI deployment while fostering innovation and protecting consumer rights.
**Consumers**
*Impact:*
Directly affected by AI-driven services and policies, including consumer protection and security measures.
*Action Required:*
Be aware of the policies and safeguards being implemented to ensure their trust and safety in AI-driven telecom services.
**Regulators**
*Impact:*
Responsible for creating the standards and ensuring that the deployment of AI technology follows the regulatory guidelines.
*Action Required:*
Continue to develop regulatory frameworks that address the ethical and responsible use of AI, including ensuring consumer consent and data privacy.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The regulator that hosted the session and is committed to a risk-based regulatory approach and regulatory sandbox-based testing to enable innovation while safeguarding consumer rights and public interest.
India AI Impact Summit 2026: The summit where the session on 'Responsible AI in Telecom' was held, focusing on digital resilience, governance, and network transformation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): The technology that the session addresses and how it will be integrated into the telecom sector.
Telecom Sector: The industry that the policy and discussions pertain to.
Ministry of Communications
TRAI Hosts ‘Responsible AI in Telecom’ Session
at India AI Impact Summit 2026, Focuses on
Digital Resilience, Governance and Network
Transformation
Posted On: 20 FEB 2026 6:17PM by PIB Delhi
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today organized a session at the India AI Impact
Summit 2026 on the theme “Responsible AI in Telecom” at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The
session brought together senior representatives from telecom service providers, global technology
companies, industry associations, and government institutions to deliberate on policy and operational
approaches for deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in telecom networks and consumer-facing
applications. The session formed part of the broader summit program and included participation from
international industry bodies and global stakeholders. The program served as a platform for deliberations
around governance priorities, including trust, accountability, and safety, alongside innovative pathways for
scaling AI responsibly in network operations, consumer protection, and service delivery. The discussions
recognized the growing convergence of AI and telecommunications as a foundational layer shaping
network design, operations, and customer experience.The session commenced with the inaugural and welcome address by Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman,
TRAI. In his opening remarks, Shri Lahoti highlighted, “Artificial intelligence is no longer a peripheral
technology for telecom; it is becoming integral to how networks are designed, managed, and experienced.
As AI systems increasingly influence decisions at a population scale, trust becomes fundamental to their
rollout. Efficiency gains must be accompanied by transparency, accountability, human oversight, and
clearly defined guardrails that ensure fairness and unbiased outcomes. Our collective responsibility is to
ensure that AI in telecom remains inclusive, resilient, secure, and aligned with the public interest.”
He further noted that telecom networks constitute a central pillar of India’s AI infrastructure, and given the
scale of India’s telecom subscriber base, AI-driven automation is becoming indispensable. AI is already
being deployed to optimize network performance, predict faults, enhance energy efficiency, improve
customer experience, and combat fraud and spam communications. Strengthened enforcement and AI-
driven filtering mechanisms have enabled action against spam-linked connections, and efforts are
underway to implement digital consent frameworks for verifiable consumer consent in commercial
communications. He reiterated TRAI’s commitment to a risk-based regulatory approach and regulatory
sandbox-based testing to enable innovation while safeguarding consumer rights and public interest.
The program featured two focused panel discussions addressing imperative dimensions of AI
integration in telecom—the first examining how networks must evolve to responsibly incorporate AI
capabilities, and the second exploring the critical question of sustaining customer trust in AI-driven
telecom operations. Together, the panels underscored the dual priority of strengthening network
intelligence while ensuring consumer confidence in AI-enabled ecosystems.
The first panel discussion, titled “Preparing Telecom Networks for the AI Era," was chaired by Shri
Ritu Ranjan Mittar, Member, TRAI. The panel comprised Mr. Magnus Ewerbring, CTO, Ericsson; Mr.
Vinesh Sukumar, VP PM, Qualcomm; Mr. Pasi Toivanen, SVP Strategic Government & Industry
Initiatives, Nokia; and Mr. Shantigram Jagannath, Sr. VP and Head NMS, Tejas. The discussion focused
on AI adoption in telecom networks and improving transparency and explainability in AI-driven systems.
It also highlighted the need to embed responsibility by design, ensure environmental sustainability, and
strengthen security and safety in AI deployment. Participants deliberated on how intelligent automation
and AI-native architectures are transforming network management across expanding 5G ecosystems.The second panel discussion, titled “Building Customer Trust through AI-driven Operations," was
chaired by Dr. M. P. Tangirala, Member, TRAI. The panel included Mr. Julian Gorman, Head of APAC,
GSMA; Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO & Chairman (Board), C-DOT; Mr. Mathan Babu Kasilingam,
CTSO & Data Privacy Officer, Vodafone India Ltd.; and Mr. Syed Tausif Abbas, Sr. DDG & Head, TEC,
DoT. The deliberations examined accountability in automated network decisions, transparency in AI-
driven customer engagement, mechanisms for responsible AI in spam prevention, ethical governance
frameworks for telecom service providers, and the need for standards to develop a comprehensive AI
incident database for analyzing AI-related failures, particularly in telecommunications and critical digital
infrastructure. The panel also discussed scaling AI responsibly in emerging 5G and future 6G
environments, especially for fraud detection and customer-facing analytics.
The sessions witnessed participation from senior industry representatives, policymakers, and technology
experts, who shared perspectives on strengthening consumer trust while enabling innovation in AI-enabled
telecom systems. The discussions reinforced the importance of collaborative approaches to ensure that AI
deployment in telecom remains balanced and secure. Participants noted that trusted AI adoption will
require continued coordination between regulators, industry, and technology stakeholders.
The deliberations from this session will contribute to the broader objectives of the India AI Impact
Summit 2026, supporting India’s vision of responsible, inclusive, and development-oriented AI adoption
in the telecom sector.
For further information or clarifications, please contact Shri Sameer Gupta, Advisor (Networks, Spectrum,
and Licensing (NSL), TRAI, at adv-nsl1@trai.gov.in.
For official updates, follow TRAI on:
X (formerly Twitter) - @TRAI
Facebook - @TRAI
Instagram - @trai.official_
LinkedIn - @trai-officialYouTube - @TelecomRegulatoryAuthorityofIndia
Website - trai.gov.in
****
MI/RG
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