ET NEWS

New Delhi: Artificial intelligence will make telecom networks self-healing and improve customer services, telecom secretary Neeraj Mittal said on Saturday. Speaking at the India Mobile Congress 2025, Mittal said that the government is trying to keep up pace with the fast-evolving technological landscape and come up with the organised response as a country along with ITU (International Telecommunication Union) to see the manner in which AI and telecom developments can be harmonised for good. "As we move from 5G to 6G, There is a tremendous role for AI to improve the intelligence in the networks, make them self-healing, move from generative AI to agentic AI, where both in the front end, deep in the network, and in the middle part of the network, there will be a lot of functions which AI will replace, make the customer service better," Mittal said. According to telecom industry players, 6G trials are expected to start in 2028 and commercial deployment will take some more time. Mittal said while AI is being used for good, there is also risk associated with AI for its bad usage and hence there is need to remain vigilant about the use of technology. "I look after telecoms in the Government of India. We are able to see how artificial intelligence aided tools are leading to deep fakes, they are leading to cloning of voice, leading to financial fraud, bypassing voice signatures, bypassing even videos to establish identities and therefore we have to be very vigilant about what the telecom network will look like with artificial intelligence," Mittal said. The Department of Telecom has developed an AI-based fraud risk indicator tool using which payments app PhonePe and Paytm have claimed to protect citizens from fraud worth Rs 200 crore and blocked more than 48 lakh suspicious transactions. "We feel that the AI for good, the foundational pillars of innovation, skills capacity building, governance and standards should lead to trusted, impactful and accessible solutions for everybody. India is advancing the AI for good vision to a USD 1 .25 billion India AI mission by investing in research, startups, and scaling to advance the goals of a secure and inclusive AI ecosystem," Mittal said. He said that India continues to shape the AI fairness and governance agenda through leadership at the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-24) and contributions to the ITU's AI standardisation framework.

India's trade landscape marked a historic milestone as the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), signed on March 10, 2024, officially came into effect on October 1, 2025.According to a government release, this is India's first Free Trade Agreement with four developed European nations: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. It also promises to bring in USD 100 billion in investments and create one million direct jobs over the next fifteen years.Under the agreement, the EFTA nations have pledged to attract USD 50 billion in investments within the first ten years and an additional USD 50 billion over the next five years. These investments are expected to focus on sectors such as renewable energy, life sciences, digital transformation, and engineering. To facilitate these, a dedicated India-EFTA Desk has been set up as a single-window platform for investors.The TEPA provides balanced market access between both sides. EFTA has offered tariff concessions on 92.2 per cent of tariff lines, covering 99.6 per cent of India's exports. In return, India has granted access on 82.7 per cent of tariff lines, representing 95.3 per cent of EFTA's exports, while protecting sensitive sectors like dairy, soya, coal, and select agricultural products.In services, where India already holds a strong global position, the pact offers wider access in 105 sub-sectors. The agreement also includes Mutual Recognition Agreements in key professions, such as nursing, accountancy, and architecture, which will facilitate the easier movement of skilled workers and professionals between India and EFTA countries.The pact's intellectual property provisions reaffirm both sides' commitment to innovation while maintaining India's flexibility to protect affordable medicines. The release noted that this balance strengthens trust and cooperation between "India's skilled workforce and Europe's technology ecosystems".Agriculture, marine products, and manufacturing are expected to experience significant growth under the agreement. Indian exports of coffee, tea, machinery, and processed foods are likely to see a boost, as EFTA countries eliminate or reduce tariffs on most of these goods. Engineering, textiles, electronics, and chemical industries will also benefit from improved market access and simplified trade procedures.The release stated that TEPA is more than just a trade deal; it is a partnership founded on confidence and mutual growth. By combining India's expanding industrial base with EFTA's technological expertise, the pact is poised to usher in a new era of cooperation centred on sustainability, innovation, and job creation. The release said this is the first time any FTA signed by India includes binding commitments on investment and job creation.