New Delhi: India has reaffirmed its commitment to building strong cross-border cybersecurity frameworks and sharing best practices with global partners. Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani made the remarks at the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 in Baku on Monday.
"In an interconnected world where cybersecurity is paramount, India is committed to collaborating on establishing strong cybersecurity frameworks, sharing best practices, and ensuring the protection of data across borders," Pemmasani said during his address.
He highlighted India’s recent efforts to combat online fraud, noting that a series of digital security initiatives have resulted in the disconnection of more than 30 million fraudulent mobile connections and prevented 6.6 million fraudulent transactions.
Pemmasani cited the Sanchar Saathi platform, launched in 2023, which allows users to track mobile connections, block lost devices, report fraudulent communication, and verify device authenticity. He also pointed to the rollout of a new “Financial Fraud Risk Indicator” that categorises mobile numbers based on fraud risk and sends real-time alerts to banks and UPI platforms. "Together, these initiatives have led to disconnection of over 30 million fraudulent connections, preventing 6.6 million fraudulent transactions," he said.
During his speech, Pemmasani emphasised India’s long-standing participation in the International Telecommunication Union, which the country joined in 1869. He said India will continue to support efforts to build a digital ecosystem that protects the environment, supports inclusive growth, and benefits all nations.
India now has more than 1.2 billion telecom subscribers, one billion internet users, and 1.4 billion biometric digital identities. Pemmasani said the country has invested over USD 4.8 billion to extend 4G services to almost the entire population and has completed one of the world’s fastest 5G rollouts, now covering 99 percent of districts. Submarine optical fibre projects have also been deployed to connect remote islands.
He added that India continues to offer one of the lowest mobile data rates in the world at 8 cents per GB, with per capita consumption reaching 28 GB per month. He noted that India drives 46 percent of global digital transactions, calling it a result of a broad-based digital shift that has deepened financial access. India's USD 18 billion rural broadband mission is already providing gigabit fibre connectivity to 218,000 villages.
The country’s National Broadband Mission 2.0 places strong emphasis on sustainability, with a target of powering 30 percent of mobile towers with renewable energy by 2030.
BI Bureau
