V&D forum highlights the future of the mobile economy

The TLF was attended by 250+ technology and business decision-makers and policymakers across the communication and broadcasting sectors

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Voice&Data, India’s leading communication magazine, held its 22nd Telecom Leadership Forum (TLF) on 19 April 2023 in New Delhi. Over 250 policymakers, business decision-makers, and technology professionals from telecommunications, start-ups, academia, enterprises, and the influencer ecosystem participated in the one-day conference.

Delivering the keynote address, Uma Shanker Pandey, Member (Services) of the Department of Telecom, Government of India, spoke about the immense growth of mobile technology in India and its impact on businesses, employment, and the challenges it faces. He also talked about the steps taken by the government to promote connectivity, security, and job creation while emphasising the rise of mobile commerce and digital payments in India.

Acknowledging India’s challenges in terms of connectivity, especially in rural areas, the Member (Services) pointed out that access to high-speed broadband in India is limited, creating a digital divide. He further informed that the government is taking steps to meet these challenges by launching a project to provide 4G services to 25,000 villages that currently have no network and upgrading 2G/3G networks to 4G. The government is also extending mobile connectivity by adding 2,000+ towers to cover the North-East region, he added.