EU-INDIA COOPERATION SESSION AT INDIA MOBILE CONGRESS, DECEMBER 8, 2020
A Conference Session dedicated to the EU-India Cooperation on the next generation of standards - 5G and beyond - was organized by ETSI in the context of InDiCo project at the virtual edition of the India Mobile Congress, on December 8-10, 2020.
The India Mobile Congress - Conference and Exhibition - is the flagship digital technology forum in Asia. It is organized by the Department of Telecom of the Ministry of Communications of the Government of India and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
This year’s edition (December 8-10, 2020) had “Inclusive Innovation: Smart, Secure, Sustainable” as a theme, and was held virtually for the first time.
Top level political support
On the first day of the Conference, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the opening keynote speech, expressing strong support to the digital and communication industry and high expectations from the deployment of new 5G technology-based applications for the good of the Indian people.
EU-India Cooperation session
The EU-India Cooperation Session on the next generation of standards – 5G and beyond – took place at the end of the first day of the conference. It was organized by ETSI, in the context of InDiCo project and in synergy with SESEI.
Looking at the future developments of mobile communications technology, the session explored the inter-relations between public policy, research and innovation, and standardisation in the European Union and in India.
Distinguished speakers
Eminent officials and speakers from India and Europe presented information and perspectives about 5G and beyond and participated to a live exchange on future steps of cooperation between EU and India:
- Dr. Archana GULATI, Joint Secretary, Digital Communication of NITI Aayog
- Shri YGSC Kishore BABU, Deputy Director General, Indian Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
- Ms. Pamela KUMAR, Director General of TSDSI
- Dr. Rajesh SHARMA, Director-I of C-DOT
- Lt. Gen. Dr. S.P. KOCHHAR, Director General of COAI
- Mr. Tonnie DE KOSTER, Adviser for International DSM Outreach at EC, DG CONNECT
- Mr. Adrian SCREASE, CTO of ETSI and Head of the Mobile Competence Centre of 3GPP
- Mr. Bernard BARANI, Deputy Head of Unit “Future Connectivity Systems” of EC DG CONNECT
- Mr. Colin WILLCOCK, Chairman of the board of the 5G Infrastructure Association
- Mr. David BOSWARTHICK, Director of New Technology at ETSI
- Mr. Benoît SAUVEROCHE, First Counsellor at the EU Delegation to India
- Mr. Emilio DAVILA – GONZALEZ, Head of sector “ICT standards” at EC DG CONNECT
- Mr. Xavier PIEDNOIR, Head of External Relations at ETSI and Project Manager of InDiCo.
We thank all the speakers for their availability and valuable contributions to the session and for their keen interest in developing cooperation opportunities.
Outcomes
In the closing remarks of this intense session, both EU and India chairpersons concluded that there was a large scope of opportunities for mutual learning and cooperation, in areas such as the development of innovative use cases, the creation of a common vision for 6G, and the sharing of good practices to tighten the links between research and innovation and standards development communities.
The session contributed to confirm topics of common interest between European and Indian stakeholders and to identify new areas to explore for future cooperation.
In addition to practical conclusions of the Conference Session, a virtual booth was attended during the three days of the conference, where 145 visitors from the Indian digital industry stopped by and virtually met with our ETSI / InDiCo team.
