Speaker’s Bios
Abhijeet Abhimanyu Masal
Mr. Abhijeet Abhimanyu Masal is a Principal Research Engineer in the Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology (CEWiT), Chennai, India with 12+ years of experience in wireless standardization. He received the M.Tech. degree in Electronics and Communication from IIT Bhubaneswar, in 2014. He represents CEWiT in 3GPP RAN1, RAN2, and SA2 and has contributed to 3GPP since Rel. 13. He is currently acting as Chairman study group Networks in TSDSI. He is ITU delegate contributing to IMT 2030 development activity in the WP5D group of radio group. His research interests include 5G & beyond and 6G wireless communications, signal processing, and machine learning in wireless networks. He is presently working on cellular Localization, C-V2X, UAV, and non-terrestrial networks (NTN) for 5GA and 6G with a focus on channel modeling and estimation, new waveforms, joint sensing and communication techniques, and unification of different verticals towards 6G.
Abhijit Chaudhary
Abhijit Chaudhary is the Founder & CEO of Niral Networks, a company focused on Private 5G, Edge Computing, and AI-driven networking solutions. He has over two decades of experience in the telecommunications and data networking industry, with expertise in product management, strategy, innovation, and network architecture.
Prior to founding Niral Networks, he co-founded Etrance Networks and played a key role in architecting networking virtualization, deep packet inspection, 4G/5G packet core, and routing solutions for telecom operators and enterprises. He was also part of the founding engineering team at Apigee, which was later acquired by Google.
He has held senior engineering and architectural roles at companies including Cisco, Huawei, Motorola, and Sandvine. Abhijit is actively engaged with the startup and telecom ecosystem and is a frequent speaker at industry forums related to 5G, IoT, Edge AI, and open-source networking technologies.
He is a member of the Governing Council of the Bharat 6G Alliance and holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. He is also a Certified Product Manager from the Association of International Product Marketing & Management.
Abhishek Thakur
Abhishek Thakur is a seasoned technology leader, researcher, and innovator with extensive experience spanning telecommunications, digital infrastructure, financial technology, cloud computing, and emerging network technologies. Currently associated with the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), he leads initiatives focused on 5G use cases, network slicing, Internet of Things (IoT), and next-generation digital platforms for the banking and financial services sector.
Over the course of his career, Abhishek has worked at the intersection of advanced communications, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. He has been instrumental in establishing and driving pioneering 5G innovation programs, including the development of India’s early 5G use-case laboratories aimed at exploring transformative applications for financial inclusion, digital banking, and enterprise connectivity. His work has focused on leveraging emerging technologies to create scalable, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystems.
An alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Abhishek combines strong academic foundations with hands-on industry expertise. Throughout his professional journey, he has contributed to projects involving virtualization, cloud-native architectures, advanced networking, security frameworks, and rural connectivity solutions. Colleagues and industry peers recognize him for his technical depth, strategic thinking, and ability to translate complex technologies into practical solutions that address real-world challenges.
A strong advocate for innovation-driven growth, Abhishek actively engages with academia, industry, and standards communities to advance research and deployment of future communication systems. His interests encompass 5G and beyond, digital public infrastructure, trustworthy AI, cybersecurity, blockchain-enabled solutions, and technology-enabled financial inclusion. Through his leadership and collaborative approach, he continues to contribute to shaping India’s digital transformation journey and the evolution of next-generation communication networks.
Aditi Nanda
Aditi Nanda is the Director for Ecosystem and Industry for APJ Intel, driving strategic collaborations that fuel innovation across sectors.
With nearly two decades of experience in business leadership, marketing strategy, and ecosystem development, she spearheads industry alliances and market access programs, reinforcing Intel’s role as a key enabler in India’s startup ecosystem with a focus on AI-driven technologies.
Aditi also serves as the lead for strategic initiatives across education in India, harnessing AI to transform learning landscapes.
An IIM Lucknow alumna, Aditi is passionate about tech-driven innovations that reshape India’s future.
Aditya Chaudhuri
Aditya Chaudhuri has worked in telecommunications and digital technology for close to four decades. He is the Founder, Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer of Advaya Networks, where he works on bringing artificial intelligence into next-generation telecom networks.
Earlier in his career he held leadership roles at Accenture, IBM and Ericsson, and before that at C-DOT and Escotel in India. Across these roles he led business and technology transformation programmes in several countries, including portfolios of over USD 800 million.
He is an Adjunct Professor of Practice at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, where he works on academia-industry collaboration. He also advises and mentors organisations on strategy, innovation and technology.
He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India), the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, and the Institute of Directors. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and of the ACM.
He writes and speaks regularly on AI in telecom and the evolution of communications networks.
Alberto Boaventura
Alberto Boaventura is a telecommunications and technology executive with over 35 years of experience in wireless communications, digital infrastructure, network transformation, and innovation strategy. An IEEE Senior Member, he holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, a Telecommunications Engineering degree, an MBA in Corporate Finance, and a postgraduate degree in Software Engineering.
Throughout his career, he has held leadership and strategic positions at organizations including Embratel, Lucent Technologies, Ericsson, Brasil Telecom, Oi, Deloitte, and currently CPQD, contributing to initiatives involving next-generation networks, AI-driven infrastructures, open and virtualized architectures, and emerging digital ecosystems.
He served as Coordinator of the Spectrum Committee for Projeto 5G Brasil (2017–2020) and as Deputy Chair of the GSMA Latin America Technical & Terminals Working Group (2012–2020), contributing to strategic discussions on spectrum policies and the evolution of mobile communications across Latin America.
At CPQD’s Technology and Innovation Directorate, he contributes to strategic initiatives related to the evolution toward 6G, AI-native and context-aware networks, open architectures, virtualization, automation, and the future of digital infrastructure.
Alexey Kulakov
Alexey Kulakov is a distinguished telecommunications expert with over 20 years of experience in mobile network design, testing, and 3GPP standardization. A long-standing 3GPP delegate, he currently serves as 3GPP RAN3 6G Rapporteur, shaping the evolution of next-generation network architecture. He has contributed extensively to 2G–5G technologies and beyond, acting as a delegate to GERAN2, RAN2, RAN3, and the RAN Plenary, and authoring hundreds of 3GPP contributions. Recognised as one of Vodafone’s most technical experts and prolific inventors, he combines deep protocol knowledge with practical deployment experience to drive innovation in IoT, security, and system efficiency.
Amit Kumar Srivastava
Mr Amit Srivastava joined DoT as ITS officer of 1996 batch and worked at various places of India and having more than 26 years of experience in various field of communications. He is presently heading the Mobile Technology division as DDG(MT) in Telecommunications Engineering Centre. He is chair of National Working Group -13 in TEC India, which studies and contributes for Study Group-13 of ITU-T and also chair of similar NWG for ORAN in TEC India. He is also Vice-Chair of ITU Focus group on Artificial Intelligence Native in Telecommunication Networks (FG-AINN) and successfully organised the 3rd meeting of FG-AINN in India from 11-13 June 2025 along with Build-a-thon event, which were largely accepted in the WG-4 of the Focus Group. He is also one of Governing Council Member of Bharat 6G Alliance representing DoT.
Anil Kumar Bhardwaj
Shri Anil Kumar Bhardwaj is the Deputy Director General (Strategic Engagements) at the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India. He leads strategic engagement initiatives, telecom policy development, and programmes promoting indigenous telecom manufacturing and emerging digital technologies. He also coordinates DoT’s industry focus groups on Generative AI for telecom networks, spam prevention, digital inclusion, and meaningful connectivity.
With over 25 years of experience in telecommunications, broadcasting, competition policy, and digital governance, Shri Bhardwaj has previously served as Director General, TRAI Centre of Studies & Research, Adviser (Broadcasting Services) at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), and Adviser (Economics) at the Competition Commission of India. He also played a key role in the successful implementation of the MCA21 e-Governance project under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
He holds a Master’s degree in International Development Policy from Duke University, an MBA in Finance from IGNOU, an Engineering degree from J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, and a Bachelor’s degree from Meerut University. He is a recipient of several prestigious recognitions, including the Vishisht Sanchar Seva Padak and the National Web Ratna Award for excellence in e-Governance.
Animesh Yadav
Dr. Animesh Yadav is an Assistant Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Ohio University, USA. Before academia, he spent five years in industry developing WiMAX-based wireless technologies. His research focuses on the intersection of communications, computing, and networking, with emphasis on machine learning for wireless systems, integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (TN–NTN), integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces. Dr. Yadav is an IEEE Senior Member, Senior Editor of IEEE Communications Letters, and Associate Editor of Frontiers in Communications and Networks. He received his master’s from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, India, and his doctorate from the University of Oulu, Finland.
Anil Tandan
Brigadier Anil Tandan (Retd.) is a telecom technology leader, with wide experience in the areas of spectrum, RFPs, technical & commercial negotiations, and networks. He has served in Fascel and Tata Cellular, prior to his tenure as CTO of Idea Cellular for 17 years. Subsequently, has also been CTO of UK-based MVNO-LycaMobile, UK. Has been recognized twice by Voice and Data magazine as the ‘Best CTO’.
Anupam Agrawal
Anupam Agrawal is an Information Technology practitioner with over two decades of leadership experience in IT public policy, ICT standardization, business transformation, and large-scale technology programme implementation. He is currently associated with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), where he has played a key role in driving technology strategy and standards-related initiatives.
A globally recognised expert in ICT standardization and Internet governance, Anupam serves on the Board of Directors of Public Technical Identifiers (PTI), an affiliate of ICANN responsible for the operation of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions. He is also a member of the Governance Review & Audit Committee (GRAC) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and leads the ISO/IEC JTC 1 Software and Systems Engineering Subcommittee’s work on Green Software. In India, he chairs and contributes to several national committees focused on ICT standards and digital policy.
A Chevening Fellow, Anupam has been actively engaged in Internet governance and standards development for more than a decade. He has spearheaded numerous capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing participation from the Asia-Pacific region in global Internet standards organizations, particularly the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). His work bridges industry, government, academia, and international standards bodies to promote an open, secure, resilient, and sustainable Internet ecosystem.
Anupam is a frequent speaker at international conferences and forums, where he shares insights on emerging technologies, digital public policy, Internet governance, ICT standards, sustainability, and the future of the global digital infrastructure.
Arvind Pandey
Arvind Pandey is a seasoned technology and business transformation leader with over 40 years of experience in the global telecommunications, ICT, and digital infrastructure sectors. He currently heads the Transformation Management Organisation at Tata Communications Transformation Services, where he leads strategic initiatives in digital transformation, automation, network modernization, mergers and acquisitions, and AI-driven operational excellence.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Arvind has held senior leadership roles at Tata Communications, Vodafone Idea, Idea Cellular, Bharti Airtel, Motorola, and Siemens. He has successfully led large-scale technology deployments, network integration programs, business transformation initiatives, and strategic planning across multiple international markets. His expertise spans 2G to 5G technologies, cloud, SDN, NFV, IoT, data centres, cybersecurity, digital platforms, and telecom infrastructure.
Arvind has played a pivotal role in some of the industry’s most significant transformation projects, including the Vodafone-Idea merger, nationwide 3G and 4G rollouts, 5G readiness programs, AI-powered automation, and the creation of digital factories and cognitive network operations. He has also advised telecom operators, technology companies, startups, and investment firms on digital strategy, innovation, and business growth.
A graduate in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from BITS Pilani, with an MBA from U21 Global and a fellowship from the University of Stuttgart, Germany, Arvind combines deep technical expertise with strategic business leadership. He is widely recognized for delivering large-scale transformation programs that drive operational excellence, customer experience, and sustainable business value.
Ashok Kumar
Mr. Ashok Kumar is an ITS officer of the 1993 batch. He has done bachelor of engineering in Electronics and MBA (Marketing). He has over 30 years of experience in the field of Telecommunications. He is presently working as Dy Director General (SRI), at DOT HQ and as technical advisor / OSD to Secretary (Telecommunications) Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, India. He is also vice chair and expert of IEG WTPF- 2026 ITU. He as Vice Chair of Study Group 16 of ITU-T during last study period ( 2020- 2024) have contributed to the work of ITU. He is one of the expert in India in the field of 5G, 6G and other emerging technologies. He has prepared and delivered training courses to ITS officers, Academia etc on 5G and 6G. During his 7 years deputation to UIDAI, he contributed in creating enabling policy, process and guidelines to expand the eco system and keep them viable and healthy resulting in achieving the mammoth task of enrolling over 90% of population of India. He represented India (nominated by Ministry of Communications, Government of India) as a speaker on “Plans and Lessons Learnt for National Digital ID” in 19th APT Policy & Regulatory Forum (PRF-19) in Bhutan. As part of India contribution for the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO)), he delivered 5 days course on “WiMAX Planning and RF Engineering” in Johannesburg, South Africa to participants from 23 Commonwealth countries.
He has worked in DoT/BSNL in the field of planning, design, procurement, installation, commissioning, operation & maintenance of Mobile Telecommunications and other telecom technologies.
Asish Bose
Asish Bose is a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff (DMTS) at Nokia, bringing more than two decades of telecommunications experience to his work in the RAN & Core CTO office on Agentic AI for Autonomous Networks across 5G and 6G. Over those twenty-plus years he has built deep hands-on expertise in the mobile packet core — spanning 5G core architecture, the service-based architecture, and the underlying 3GPP specifications — and now combines that foundation with next-generation AI.
His current focus is weaving agentic communication end-to-end across the network, from intelligent agents on the user equipment through to the core, and on the standards work shaping how autonomous, self-operating networks will be built in the 6G era. He actively contributes from Nokia toward defining next-generation agentic AI standards for telecommunications.
Asish is a frequent keynote speaker and a long-time open-source evangelist on AI engineering, and is based in Ottawa, Canada.
FOCUS AREAS
Agentic AI for Autonomous Networks · 5G / 6G Mobile Core Architecture · Service-Based Architecture & 3GPP Standards · End-to-End Agentic Communication from UE to Network · Multi-Agent Systems
Ashwani Kumar
Ashwani Kumar is an accomplished industry leader in technology & spectrum standardization with 32 years of experience in Telecom industry, Ashwani has served Ministry of Communication as Indian Telecom Service officer (1992 Batch) in Department of Telecom, TEC (Ministry of Communication, India) and BSNL (India’s State Telco) for about 15 years, before taking a next stint with British Telecom, Ericsson, and Huawei in senior leadership roles in 2006.
Joining Nokia in 2023, he is leading Spectrum Standardization and 6G Engagements, to drive a balance of market requirements, academic research, and policy ambitions in India.
As a founding member of TSDSI in his erstwhile affiliation with Ericsson, he has been on the Governing Council of TSDSI for two terms (2017-2019 from Ericsson and 2020-22 from Huawei) in addition to chairing TSDSI’s Industry Taskforce. He significantly contributed in propelling TSDSI to become an Organizational Partner (OP) of 3GPP at a very early stage.
He has been continuously engaged in spectrum standardization making significant contribution for IMT spectrum in WRC-15, WRC-19 and WRC-23 cycles. He has led modelling and simulations for spectrum coexistence studies to drive the conclusions. Currently, he is actively engaged in WRC-27 spectrum standardization cycle, with key focus on AIs 1.7, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, in ITU-R WP4C and WP5D, APT and national study groups (NSG’s) in India. He keeps a close tab on emerging trends in both terrestrial and satellite communication, as well as emerging paradigms in spectrum management.
Also, fully active in 3GPP standardization since Rel. 11, he has shaped strategic priorities and mobilizing global support for Indian MNOs requirements for 4GLTE and 5G/NR in various 3GPP Releases.
Having led evaluation of 3GPP and NuFront RITs in IMT-2020 cycle, he is now engaged in IMT-2030 process, with active contribution to IMT-2030 Framework (M.2160) and the ongoing work on IMT-2030 Technical Performance Requirements and Evaluation framework in ITU-R WP5D.
He is also driving strategic alignments among all major global 6G research programs (like NextGen Alliance (NGA), SNS-JU/Hexa-X in EU, 5GMF in Japan) and plugging Bharat 6G Alliance.
He pursued B. Tech. (Electronics & Communication) and M. Tech. (Micro-Electronics), both from IIT Roorkee.
Bindoo Srivastava
Bindoo Srivastava is currently responsible for MARCOM and Partner Relations at Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI). She also serves as the MARCOM Chair at oneM2M.
She has previously led Product development activities and managed large system integration programs in Smart Grids/AMI/SCADA domains. She has also contributed to the development of India appropriate standards based on indigenous research and innovations in this space.
She earned her B.E in Electrical Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering (now D.TU) in 1988 and Masters in Electrical Energy Systems from IIT Madras in 1990.
Charles Santhosam
Mr Charles is a, Senior R&D Management professional with 25+ Years of wireless experience in L1/L23/Arch/System Engineering areas.
He completed his Master’s in Engg from Indian Institute of science & holds an MBA on International Business.
He has a great deal of experience in development of SW/FW on CPU/DSP/FPGA/GPU based computes for all generations of Mobile standards from 2G to 5G. He started his career at Centre for Development Telematics (C-DoT) and worked with NxP semiconductors, Alcatel Lucent and Mavenir in the past. Currently leading the development of Aerial AI algorithms for L1/L2 functions on GPU platform for 5G/6G wireless solutions in India as part of NVIDIA.
Charles is a Senior Member of IEEE and has served as Execom member of IEEE Bangalore section for two years. He is a Prolific Inventor and has 5 patents granted and 30 Patents in published state.
Chandra Challagonda
Chandra Challagonda is the Chief Executive Officer of the FIWARE Foundation, a global non-profit organisation fostering open-source technologies for smart cities, data spaces, and digital public infrastructure. With over 26 years of leadership experience across the digital transformation landscape, Chandra has played a pivotal role in scaling open and interoperable ecosystems that empower governments, industries, and communities worldwide. Before becoming CEO, he served as an Architect and Business Community Manager at FIWARE, where he led strategic initiatives and global partnerships with a strong focus on sustainability, ethical AI, and digital sovereignty.
Chandra is also recognised for his entrepreneurial impact—he is a serial entrepreneur with an inclination towards impact, reflecting his deep-rooted commitment to open innovation and inclusive growth. His contributions span high-impact EU projects such as OpenDEI, DSSC, and DS4SSCC, and he is actively engaged in international forums on AI and data governance, including the UN’s AI for Developing Countries initiative. Chandra brings a global perspective on enabling open digital ecosystems, promoting sovereign and standards-based data sharing, and unlocking the full potential of NGSI-LD and open-source DPI frameworks for India and the Global South.
Debashish Chakraborty
Debashish Chakraborty is the Senior Director – Advocacy & Industry Engagement at GSMA, where he leads industry engagement, policy advocacy, and ecosystem collaboration initiatives across India. With more than two decades of experience spanning telecommunications, digital infrastructure, strategic alliances, sustainability, and technology-driven transformation, he works closely with mobile operators, policymakers, industry stakeholders, and technology partners to advance the development of next-generation connectivity. Prior to joining GSMA, he held leadership roles across global technology and industrial organizations, driving business growth, strategic partnerships, and innovation initiatives. He is an active contributor to discussions on 5G, 5G-Advanced, 6G, Open Gateway, private networks, digital trust, and the future of telecommunications, and is a frequent speaker and moderator at leading industry forums
Devendra Singh
Mr. Devendra Singh has done B. Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and Post Graduate Diploma in ‘Public Policy and Management’ from MDI, Gurugram. He belongs to 1994 batch of Indian Telecommunications Services. In his service career of more than three decades, he has served in various capacities in Department of Telecommunications and its different organizations like MTNL, BSNL, TRAI and LSA where he handled licensing, provision and monitoring of telecom services. He has also been on deputation to Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs. Presently he is posted in Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), DoT as Deputy Director General, and heading the division responsible for framing standards on Artificial Intelligence among other things.
He will talk about Standards for assessing and rating Artificial Intelligence systems for their Fairness and Robustness.
Gnanaprakash Sebastain
Gnanaprakash Sebastain is a Principal Architect in Tata Elxsi’s CTO Office, driving AI-first architecture and innovation for next-generation telecom platforms. With over two decades of experience, he has architected and delivered intelligent products across RAN, SON, Autonomous Networks, Digital Twins, V2X and IoT. His current work focuses on AI-native, standards-aligned and vendor-agnostic platforms that combine digital-twin modelling, knowledge graphs and agentic automation to help operators accelerate assurance, improve decision accuracy and enable trusted closed-loop telecom operations for future networks.
G Narendra Nath
Narendra Nath Gangavarapu, is working as Joint Secretary, National Security Council Secretariat with responsibilities for ensuring cyber security by different entities of India in the government, public and private sectors. He is also driving the initiative on the Trusted Telecom Supply Chain. He is the Coordinating Chair for India for the QUAD Critical and Emerging Technologies Working Group focused on diversifying 5G supply chains, ORAN and obtaining leadership positions in emerging technologies of Biotechnology, AI and Quantum Technologies. He drives the cyber security R&D fund and, in this capacity, NSCS has supported Cybersecurity R&D projects including in emerging technology areas. Prior to this he was Deputy Director General, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India with overall responsibilities for the policy formulation and implementation and matters pertaining to Telecom network security of India.
He was a Director on the Boards of Tata Telecommunications and NIXI and on the Governing Council of TSDSI.
He holds a Masters in Technology from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi with specialization in VLSI design.
Hanumantha Rao
Dr. Hanumantha Rao received his PhD from The Queen’s university, Belfast, UK, M.S. from BITS, Pilani and B.Tech. from SV University, India. He has more than 34 years of experience in Research and Development in RF, microwaves and mm-wave technologies for strategic and civilian sectors.
He has been working in SAMEER for the past 32 years after a brief stay at Space Applications Centre SAC (ISRO), Ahmedabad. As a scientist, in the initial part of his career and later as a senior member of the organisation, he has been actively involved in the implementation of various future driven next generation technologies for both strategic and societal applications for DRDO, MeitY and DoT. He has been part of multi-institute (IITM, IITB, IITD, IITK, IITH, IISc, CEWiT and SAMEER) collaborative research towards the development of Indigenous 5G solutions. He was part of 5G team and, demonstrated for the first time in India, a fully functional MIMO and Massive MIMO systems at sub 6-GHz band, and integrated mm-wave Tiled Phased array antennas. He was instrumental in building indigenous technologies, R&D facilities and executed various strategic projects to address the denied technologies to India. He actively participates in developing Indian standards for 5G and represented India at ITU global meetings. He contributed towards SoC, SoP and implemented Electromagnetic Band Gaps (EBG) and Metamaterial configurations in collaboration with Georgia Tech, Atlanta, USA.
As a member of high-level committees at national level in driving the technology programs for India, he facilitated collaborative research between SAMEER-Academia and industry, both at national and international levels. He actively contributes in capacity building in terms of lectures, workshops and symposia and mentored number of scientific teams at various levels. He has guided more than 50 M.Tech. /MS students along with 11 PhDs. He is a member of Doctoral Committees for various IITs, NITs and reputed Indian universities. He created SAMEER-Academia interaction with various premier IITs and NITs.
Most of his work has been published in highly referred journals. Some of his publications are the most referred / popular articles for a long period in IEEE. He has more than 120 publications in IEEE/IEE/John Wiley and referred journals and conferences.
His current research areas include 6G solutions, intelligent reflecting surfaces, UAV detection and deactivation, Spectrum studies and RF SoC and Tiled Phased arrays systems.
Hemant Kumar Rath
Dr Hemant is a Senior Member of IEEE holds MTech and Ph.D. from IIT Bombay, India, and BE in EL&TCE from VSSUT Burla, Odisha. He has more than 28 years of experience in academics, research, and industry.
At present, Hemant is a Principal Scientist & Distinguished Engineer at TCS Research, Bhubaneswar.
He has authored several research papers, co-authored a book, delivered several talks and keynotes, and has more than 100 granted patents in the broad areas of communication and networking.
He is active in national and international standardization in the areas of networking and communications. Hemant is also teaching at IIT Bhubaneswar (School of Electrical and Computer Sciences) as an Adjunct Faculty since July 2019.
Hideyuki Iwata
Dr. Hideyuki Iwata is the President and Director-General of the Telecommunication Technology Committee (TTC), Japan, and serves as the Chair of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Standardization Program (ASTAP). With over three decades of experience in telecommunications research, standardization, and international collaboration, he has played a pivotal role in advancing next-generation communication technologies and fostering regional and global standardization initiatives.
Dr. Iwata began his career with NTT Laboratories in 1991 and subsequently held several key leadership positions within NTT, including Senior Manager of the R&D Planning Group, where he was responsible for standardization planning and technology coordination. In 2008, he joined TTC on temporary transfer from NTT, further strengthening his engagement in telecommunications standardization. Since 2010, he has actively contributed to ASTAP, initially serving as Vice Chair of the Bridging Standardization Gap (BSG) Expert Group before assuming the role of ASTAP Vice Chair in 2020.
In addition to his leadership in standards development, Dr. Iwata has contributed to academia as a Visiting Professor at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas since 2019. He also served as Director-General of the Inter-Industry Innovation Center at TTC and as Chairman of the XGP Forum in 2020. Since January 2021, he has been leading TTC as its President and Director-General, driving innovation, international cooperation, and the development of global telecommunications standards.
Hyeyoung Esthel Lee
Ms. Hyeyoung Esthel Lee has over 20 years’ experience working in telecommunications standardization. She is currently Head of the Mobile Communication Standardization Team in the Standardization Division of TTA taking the lead in 5G and 6G standardization activities.
Prior to joining TTA, she was a senior engineer at Samsung Electronics, where she was involved in 3GPP RAN1 and RAN4 standardization.
She received her B.S. degrees in electronic engineering from Korea University in 2001.
Itsuma Tanaka
Itsuma Tanaka is the President & CEO of DOCOMO Euro-Labs, the European research and standardization arm of NTT DOCOMO. Since joining NTT DOCOMO in 2004, he has built extensive expertise in mobile network technologies, international standardization, and telecommunications innovation.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Tanaka has contributed to mobile core network research and development, global standardization activities within 3GPP and GSMA, international business initiatives, cybersecurity programs, and organizational transformation efforts. In his current role, he leads DOCOMO Euro-Labs’ activities in shaping future mobile network architectures and advancing international collaboration on next-generation telecommunications standards.
A recognized leader in the global telecommunications ecosystem, Mr. Tanaka is actively involved in driving the evolution of 5G and 6G technologies, with a particular focus on network architecture, interoperability, sustainability, and the development of open, scalable platforms for future digital services. Under his leadership, DOCOMO Euro-Labs continues to play a significant role in international standardization efforts that will define the networks of the next decade.
Jan Ellsberger
Jan Ellsberger is the Director‑General of ETSI (European Telecommunications/Technology Standards Institute), leading the organisation’s strategic evolution and its mission to deliver global, market-driven ICT standards grounded in European priorities and values. He can rely on extensive experience across industry, public policy and standards ecosystems, as he works closely with European institutions and stakeholders to strengthen ETSI’s role in supporting Europe’s digital leadership, sovereignty, competitiveness and innovation capacity. At the same time, he is reinforcing ETSI’s international partnerships and guiding the development of technology standards that support global digital transformation. Jan is deeply committed to fostering open, inclusive collaboration among industry, governments and research communities, ensuring that standards remain a trusted foundation for innovation and sustainable growth.
Javan Erfanian
As a senior consultant and strategist, Javan Erfanian is Senior Director of Strategy at GTI Alliance and leads the 6G Architecture Working Group at one6G Association. He has extensive experience with industry, global alliances, ITU, standards organizations, and research, particularly on inclusive and responsible digital intelligence socio-economic transformation, towards and shaping 6G. Javan has previously taught at University of Toronto, with research publications and many citations, and continues to have research seminars and roundtables at variety of universities. He has been a recipient of IEEE Communications Society Millennium Medal and the NGMN Lifetime Achievement Award.
Jesu Maria Antony
Jesu Maria Antony S is a seasoned Data and AI Solution Architect in the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Office at Tata Elxsi, driving innovation across Data Science, AI, and Digital Platforms. With 19+ years of industry experience, including over 4 years at Tata Elxsi, he plays a core role in building the LEXI Data/AI Digital Intelligence Platform and advancing AI‑led capabilities in the TETHER Connected Vehicle Platform. He leads multiple applied AI initiatives within CTO Office, contributing to Tata Elxsi’s “home to a billion possibilities” culture. He also actively shares insights on emerging AI tools and contributes to the TSDSI community on AI and Digital Twin technologies.
Jishnu Aravindakshan
Jishnu Aravindakshan is Principal Product Architect (Technology) in CTO’s office, Tejas Networks India Limited and has 22 years’ experience in the field of Telecom.
He obtained his BTech in electronics and communication from NIT, Calicut in 2001 and Masters from IISc, Bangalore in 2004. Subsequently he joined Tejas Networks and is responsible for deciding the long-term roadmap of the company, heads the 6G standardization team as well as academia collaboration activity for Tejas Networks. He has represented Tejas at ITU-T SG15 and has contributed towards the development of ITU-T G.8032 and MPLS-TP standards. His present interests include 5G-Adv and 6G. He was actively involved in 5G and 6G standardization through TSDSI (Telecom Standards Development Society, India) at ITU-R WP5D, and as Individual Member at 3GPP RAN/SA/CT. He was closely involved in the design of 3G/4G backhaul architecture with major Indian and International operators. He successfully represented India and TSDSI during the IMT2020 standardization activity for inclusion of LMLC (Low Mobility Large Cell) as a 5G evaluation configuration in Rural eMBB. He was the founding Chairman of Optical Access and Transport Study Group (SG3) in TSDSI which developed CPRI Fronthaul standard. Later he continued as the Vice Chairman of Study Group – Networks (SGN) and coordinated the effort from TSDSI for including a 5G Radio Interface Technology (RIT) or 5Gi from India in ITU-R IMT 2020. Recently, he as part of Indian delegation contributed to ITU-R IMT-2030 aka 6G Framework/Vision document ITU-R M.2160. He was the founding Vice Chairman of Technology WG for B6GA which has finalized the detailed roadmap for the 6G standardization and productization by 2030. He is also part of the India delegation which finalized the 6G Framework, TPR and EVAL document at ITU-R WP5D.
He has filed 20 patents (12 granted) and was awarded the best paper award by IETE in 2006. He has edited the Springer’s CSI Transaction on ICT on a special issue on “Wireless in the future” as a guest editor in March 2019.
JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA
Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia has been recently appointed as the Union Minister of Communications; and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India. He is a six-term Member of Parliament, which includes five terms in the Lok Sabha (2002-04, 2004-09, 2009-14, 2014-19, 2024-2029), and one term in the Rajya Sabha (2020-2024) representing the state of Madhya Pradesh. During the Lok Sabha 2024 elections and Vidhan Sabha 2023 elections, he was appointed as the star campaigner for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state of Madhya Pradesh. He is also the Member of the BJP Election Management Committee and the Core Committee of BJP in Madhya Pradesh.
Mr. Scindia began his journey in public service in 2002. In his tenure as the Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel (from 2021 to 2024), Mr. Scindia played an instrumental role in incorporating substantial improvements in the aviation sector, enhancing connectivity and infrastructure across the country. His tenure saw initiatives aimed at modernizing airports and increasing accessibility to remote areas, thereby boosting economic growth and tourism. As Minister of Steel, Mr. Scindia has been pivotal in driving policies that strengthen the steel industry, ensuring it remains competitive on the global scale and contributes robustly to India’s economic framework. He also made dedicated efforts to boost the green steel sector in India.
From 2007-2009, he served as the Minister of State for Telecommunications, Posts and IT; from 2009-2012 as the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, and then, from 2012-2014 as Minister of Power (Independent Charge). Mr Scindia’s tenure as Minister of State for Telecommunications, Posts and IT ushered in the transformational Project Arrow that modernized the Indian post offices through new branding and IT-enabled procedures. In his tenure as Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, he successfully brought down transaction costs in Indian exports at various levels – right from the stage of production to the end customer. Additionally, as Minister of Power (Independent Charge), he led the establishment of a unified transmission grid network i.e. One Nation One Grid with a 6-sigma reliability system, linkages for power plants, and resolved last-mile distribution issues in collaboration with State Governments. Mr. Scindia has also been a member of Parliamentary Committees on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports; Defence; Finance; Home and External Affairs.
Mr. Scindia completed his schooling from the Doon School, Dehradun. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Harvard University, USA and an MBA degree from the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, USA. Besides, Mr. Scindia has also worked at the United Nations, and as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch.
Apart from his political roles, Mr Scindia is passionate about education. He is currently serving as the President of the Board of Governors at the Scindia School (Gwalior), Madhav Institute of Technology & Sciences (Gwalior), and Samrat Ashok Technological Institute (Vidisha). He is also a Board Member for Scindia Kanya School (Gwalior) and Saraswati Sishu Mandir (Gwalior).
With an avid interest in cricket, he has served as the Member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and as the Chairman of the Finance Committee and Member of the Disciplinary Committee of BCCI. For two years from 2014-16, he was the Member of the Governing Council for the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has acted as the Former President and Chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) and also represented MPCA in the BCCI.
Jyotsna Bapat
Dr. Jyotsna Bapat is a distinguished academic, researcher, and thought leader in the field of wireless communications and next-generation networking technologies. She is currently a Professor at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B), where she has played a significant role in advancing research and innovation in telecommunications, digital signal processing, network slicing, and beyond-5G/6G technologies.
Dr. Bapat earned her Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State University), USA, specializing in communication systems, with research focused on semi-blind equalization techniques. Following her doctoral studies, she worked in the telecommunications industry, contributing to the design and implementation of advanced modem technologies, including V.34 voice-band modems and DSL systems, at leading technology organizations such as Ariel Corporation and Lucent Technologies.
Over the course of her academic career, Dr. Bapat has established an extensive research portfolio spanning wireless communication systems, cognitive radio networks, Internet of Things (IoT), digital signal processing, network slicing, integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), quantum networking, and AI-enabled communication systems. She has authored and co-authored numerous high-impact research publications and has supervised several research scholars working on emerging communication technologies.
At IIIT-B, Dr. Bapat has contributed significantly to research initiatives focused on 5G-Advanced and 6G networks, network automation, intelligent resource management, and secure communications. Her recent work includes research on network slicing, digital twins for telecommunications networks, AI-driven network optimization, quantum networking, and future wireless architectures.
A respected voice in the global telecommunications ecosystem, Dr. Bapat frequently engages with industry, academia, and standards communities through conferences, workshops, and collaborative research programs. Her work continues to contribute to shaping the evolution of future communication networks and digital connectivity frameworks.
Dr. Bapat’s blend of industrial experience, academic excellence, and forward-looking research makes her a leading contributor to the advancement of next-generation communication technologies and their real-world applications.
Kentaro Sakata
Since 2015, Mr. Kentaro Sakata has been actively engaged in international standardization activities at ITU-R and APT as a member of the Japanese delegation. He has contributed to spectrum-related discussions for terrestrial systems, including IMT and HAPS/HIBS, and to the development of IMT-2030 (6G) radio interfaces.
He contributed to the identification of the 700–900 MHz, 1.7–2.1 GHz, and 2.6 GHz frequency bands for HIBS under WRC-23 Agenda Item 1.4. He is also involved in ITU-R WP 5D activities on IMT-2030 minimum technical performance requirements, including “Resilience and Extended Connectivity,” a key element relevant to HAPS/HIBS.
Mahesh Nayaka Mysore
Mahesh Nayaka Mysore Annaiah, is working as an Assistant Vice President at Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, with over 28 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. He has complete 2 terms as the Chair for SGSS study group in TSDSI. His core competencies are mobile networks including GSM, WCDMA, PHS, NG-PHS, XG-PHS, Mobile WiMax, 4G LTE, 5G NR and WiFi, Satellite networks including Mobile Satellite Systems, MCPC/ISD64 VSAT and DEVS, and SON, which he applies to develop and deliver cutting edge solutions and standards for the 5G/6G technologies. He owns over 25 patents.
Manjesh Kumar Hanawal
Manjesh K. Hanawal received the BTech degree in ECE from NIT, Bhopal, in 2004, the M.S. degree in ECE from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, in 2009, and the Ph.D. degree from INRIA, Sophia Antipolis and University of Avignon, France, in 2013. After two years of postdoc at Boston University, he joined the Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India, where he is now a Professor. During 2004-2007, he worked on various security-related projects with CAIR, DRDO. His research interests include communication networks, machine learning, and cybersecurity.
His awards include the Best M.Sc (Engg) thesis award from Division of Electrical Sciences, IISc, Bangalore, India, Inspire Faculty Award from DST, the Early Career Research Award from SERB, Class of 1973 Faculty Award for Research Excellence, Dr. P.K. Patwardhan Award for Technology Development from IIT Bombay, and Chanakya faculty fellowship from TiH-IIT Bombay. His team has participated in several hackathons, winning the 5G and Beyond Hackathon 2023, the Vimarsh 2023 5G Hackathon (runnerup), and ITU WTSA-2024 AI Bharath 5G \& 6G Sandbox Hackathon (1st place). He is an active contributor to the 3GPP SA3 and SA1 working groups. He was the rapporteur of the Technical Specification- Security Assurance Specification for the Short Message Service Function (TS 33.529).
Manoj Khanna
Dr. Manoj Khanna is a distinguished expert in water and natural resources management with over four decades of experience in research, innovation, and policy. Dr. Khanna is the Founder and Principal Consultant of HydroSage Advisory and served as Principal Scientist at the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute until his retirement in 2024.
A graduate of IIT Delhi and a Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne, Australia, Dr. Khanna has made significant contributions to precision irrigation, climate-smart agriculture, groundwater management, drought monitoring, and the application of AI and IoT in agriculture. Throughout his illustrious career, he has led several large-scale national and international research initiatives funded by the World Bank, ICAR, and the Government of India.
Dr. Khanna has authored over 200 research publications, mentored more than 20 postgraduate and doctoral scholars, and played a pivotal role in developing India’s Composite Drought Index in collaboration with national and international organizations. His work has strengthened sustainable water resource management and agricultural resilience across the country.
A Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India) and the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers, Dr. Khanna has received numerous accolades, including the Melbourne International Research Scholarship and the N.B.C.C. Prize for Excellence from IIT Delhi. He has also served as Secretary General of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers and continues to contribute to national initiatives on irrigation water management.
Mayank Gupta
Mayank Gupta is Senior Expert – AI Products at Mahindra & Mahindra, where he leads enterprise AI strategy and delivery across manufacturing and supply chain operations. Over the course of his career, he has worked with Hilti and Honda across India and the wider APAC region, building expertise in operations, quality, and digital transformation. He is an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Roorkee.
N. Subramanian
As Executive Director, SETS he guides teams contributing to research in cybersecurity including cryptography & computing, hardware security, quantum security, and network security areas. Prior to joining SETS he had served at Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) as Head of R&D and coordinated R&D activities across C-DAC centres.
He is contributing to the Cybersecurity Division of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) regarding R&D roadmap and initiatives. He is contributing as member in Expert the committee and Project Review & Steering Group (PRSG) committee(s) of MeitY, Computer Emergency Response Team – India (CERT-In), Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), Doctoral committee, hackathon reviews, and mentored start-ups. He contributes to standards formulation activities under BIS and TSDSI and involved in guiding PhD students for research guidance.
Neena Goveas
Prof. Neena Goveas is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, where she has been instrumental in advancing interdisciplinary research spanning computer science, embedded systems, artificial intelligence, and networked systems. She is currently the Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs Division and has also served as Associate Dean, Academic Undergraduate Studies at the Goa campus, contributing significantly to academic administration and curriculum development.
Prof. Goveas earned her Ph.D. in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, where her doctoral research focused on Mean-field approaches to thermodynamic properties of magnetic systems. Prior to joining BITS Pilani, she worked on several prestigious research projects, including an Indo–US collaborative project on magneto-optic materials at IIT Bombay and a DST Young Scientist project on low-dimensional magnetic systems at IIT Guwahati.
Over the course of her career, Prof. Goveas has successfully transitioned from theoretical physics to computer science and engineering, establishing a distinguished research portfolio in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, TinyML, Edge-Cloud Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Cyber-Physical Systems, Wireless Sensor Networks, Blockchain-enabled IoT, Network Science, and Autonomous Systems. Her recent work focuses on applying AI/ML to resource-constrained devices, healthcare systems, communication networks, autonomous vehicles, and hierarchical IoT-edge-cloud architectures.
A prolific researcher and mentor, Prof. Goveas has authored numerous journal and conference publications in leading international venues and has supervised doctoral and postgraduate research in areas such as healthcare cyber-physical systems, edge computing, machine learning for embedded devices, resource allocation, and network optimization. Her recent contributions include research on TinyML-based healthcare applications, machine learning-driven healthcare resource allocation, edge-cloud task optimization, federated learning for autonomous systems, and cybersecurity education.
Prof. Goveas is a Senior Member of IEEE and has been associated with the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy, as a Senior Research Associate. Her work reflects a unique combination of expertise in fundamental science and applied computing, enabling impactful solutions to real-world challenges in intelligent and resource-constrained systems.
With extensive experience in research, teaching, and academic leadership, Prof. Goveas continues to contribute to the advancement of next-generation intelligent systems, AI-driven networking, and sustainable digital technologies, while fostering innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration across academia and industry.
Prasad Petkar
Prasad Petkar a seasoned telecommunications expert with over 20 years of experience in Device Testing, Base Station Testing, and Network Optimization. He currently serves as the Communication Solutions Architect at Keysight Technologies, India, where he leads presales for advanced wireless solutions. Prasad also holds multiple US Patents and holds a Master’s degree in Data Science from BITS Pilani, bringing together deep technical expertise and analytical insight.
Prafulla Kumar
Prafulla Kumar is Vice President C Head of Technology and Products (SATCOM) at Reliance Jio, where he leads strategy, technology, spectrum and product initiatives for GSO and NGSO satellite communication networks. With over 20 years of experience in satellite communications, spectrum management, and orbital resource planning, he has played a key role in satellite and ground segment deployment, frequency coordination, and spectrum policy. Prior to joining Reliance Jio, he spent more than 15 years at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), contributing to satellite payload planning, HTS gateway realization, and ITU-R engagements. He is widely recognized for his expertise in satellite technology, spectrum coexistence, and next-generation satellite connectivity C digital transformation.
Preksha Shah
Dr. Preksha Shah is currently a Senior Research Scientist at Free Stream Technologies, working on global standardization efforts in TSDSI, ITU-T, 3GPP, and ATSC.
Prior to this, she was Research Scientist in IIT Bombay. Her interests include AI-driven network optimization, and energy-efficient communications, spectrum-efficient Broadcast-to-everything (B2X) systems, convergence of broadcast and cellular networks.
She has served as Co-Chair of WG4 in the ITU-T Focus Group on AI-Native for Telecommunication Networks (FG-AINN). She was recognized among the “100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G” (2024) by Women in 6G™. She received her Ph.D. and MTech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Lovely Professional University, India.
Rahul Vatts
Rahul Vatts is the Director- Corporate Affairs, and Group Chief Regulatory Officer, Bharti Airtel Limited, Director– OneWeb Communications India, Chairperson, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), and Vice Chairman of the Indian Space Association (ISpA).
He also chairs key industry groups such as the GSMA Spectrum Policy Working Group and the Asia-Pacific Anti-Spam Taskforce (ACAST), which is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between MNOs and digital ecosystem players.
A telecom industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, Rahul is an expert on a myriad of subjects, including telecom licensing, digital regulations, spectrum management and regulatory litigation. He has had a leading role in shaping policy discussions around emerging digital issues such as AI, digital competition, and data privacy.
He has an engineering degree in telecommunications from the University of Pune and is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad and The Wharton School, Pennsylvania.
Rajavelsamy R
Rajavelsamy R is a highly experienced telecommunications and network security professional with nearly 20 years of expertise in mobile communications, security architecture, and global standards development. Since joining Samsung Electronics in 2003, he has been instrumental in shaping the evolution of 4G, 5G, and emerging 6G technologies through active participation in 3GPP standardization.
His areas of expertise include mobile network security, privacy protection, authentication protocols, network architecture, and cellular–Wi-Fi interworking. Rajavelsamy has authored and co-authored numerous technical papers and contributed to innovative solutions for secure and reliable mobile communications. He is widely recognized in the telecom standards community for advancing next-generation network technologies and strengthening security frameworks for future digital ecosystems.
Since 2004, Rajavelsamy has been actively involved in the 3GPP SA3 Working Group, making significant contributions to SA3 specifications. He has served as Rapporteur for key topics and held three terms as SA3 Vice-Chair (2007-09, 2019-21, and 2022-23), showcasing exceptional leadership during critical periods. Currently, he serves as the Chair of the 3GPP SA3 Working Group.
In 2024, he was honoured with the 3GPP Excellence Award for his outstanding contributions to the SA3 Working Group, particularly for his leadership in advancing security specifications.
Ravi Emani
Ravi brings over 29 years of experience in connectivity product and network engineering and currently serves as Global Head of the Connectivity Practice at Wipro Engineering. The practice delivers product and network engineering services to the global telecom ecosystem.
In this role, Ravi is responsible for service offerings, Centers of Excellence (CoE), thought leadership, service delivery, and customer satisfaction (CSAT). His expertise spans system architecture, software design, development, and testing across wireless, wireline, core networks, SDN, cloud platforms, and OSS systems.
He has led the development of several intellectual properties in the connectivity domain, including the Multi-Domain Orchestrator, ANO/Dark NOC, and rApps, along with 5G reference stacks across both RAN and core domains. Ravi has also contributed to key open-source initiatives such as ONF, ONAP, Intel DPDK, and TIP.
Additionally, he is an author or co-author of multiple patent applications, with several granted in areas including GPRS, service management, network slicing, and multi-domain orchestration.
Ravi Gandhi
President & Chief Public Policy & Regulatory Officer, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited
Dr. Ravi Gandhi is President and Chief Public Policy & Regulatory Officer at Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, India’s leading digital services provider.
Dr. Gandhi holds a Ph.D. from IIT Delhi and a B.Tech from NIT Kurukshetra. He also serves as the Chairman of Spectrum Working Group at Bharat 6G Alliance.
Dr. Gandhi is a distinguished leader in the telecommunications sector with over three decades of exceptional expertise in public policy, telecom regulation, and network operations. With his adeptness in navigating complex technology and policy landscapes, he has consistently enabled organizations to excel and adapt in a rapidly changing environment.
Dr. Gandhi has previously served as Chief Regulatory Officer at Bharti Airtel Limited and, as an officer of the Indian Telecom Services (ITS), held key positions in the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India. He is renowned for his visionary strategies that transform policy challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. He exemplifies the powerful combination of technical expertise and strategic foresight, driving innovation and meaningful societal impact.
Roopa C
Roopa C is a Senior Telecommunications Engineer and Researcher at the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier R&D arm of India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT). She serves as an elected Working Group Chair at the Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI)
Revathi Mannepalli
Ms. Revathi Mannepalli is Joint Wireless Adviser to the Government of India and an elected Member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations Board (2023–2026). With nearly three decades of distinguished experience in radiocommunication policy, spectrum management, and international regulatory affairs, she has played a pivotal role in shaping global and national spectrum governance. She has represented India at major ITU conferences, including World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs), Plenipotentiary Conferences, WTSA, WTDC, and Council sessions, and has led numerous Indian delegations and technical contributions on satellite communications, next-generation wireless technologies, and spectrum policy. Ms. Mannepalli has been instrumental in advancing equitable access to spectrum and orbital resources, supporting regulatory reforms, resolving cross-border interference issues, and contributing to India’s Telecommunications Act, 2023. She has also represented the Asia-Pacific region in international spectrum forums and arbitration proceedings and has been closely associated with securing spectrum resources for landmark Indian space missions. Recognized for her technical expertise, strategic vision, and diplomatic leadership, she is currently India’s candidate for Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau for the 2027–2030 term.
RK Pathak
Rajesh Kumar Pathak, an M. Tech IT BHU, joined Central Government in 1987. Since then, he has worked with Government and industry in various disciplines like test and certification, Make in India policy formulation and implementation, international cooperation etc. He has more than 38 years of experience with 15 years in senior positions at Government of India.
Rajesh Kumar Pathak is recognized for his exceptional contributions to technological innovation, indigenous manufacturing and global collaborations. He was instrumental in setting up of the Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI), driving technology standards and innovation. Mr. Pathak was instrumental in conceptualization and execution of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products.
Mr. Pathak was Member Secretary in High level Forum for 5G India 2020 and implemented “Making India 5G Ready” report. He was also Member Secretary of Technology Innovation Group on 6G and played strategic role in Bharat 6G Vision document and was Bharat 6G Mission Head.
Now he is Director General Bharat 6G Alliance, an initiative of Indian industry, academia, national research institutions and standards organizations facilitated by the Government. Mr. Pathak’s strategic insight extends to nurturing Indian start-ups and the “Make In India” campaign, fostering innovation, standardisation and technology commercialisation.
S. Kirubakaran
Dr. S. Kirubakaran is a Project Manager at ERNET India, an autonomous R&D organisation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, contributing to advanced optical communication.
He holds a Ph.D. in Wireless Communication from the Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM), Kancheepuram, and an M.E. in Applied Electronics from Anna University, where he was a University Rank Holder.
His research spans cooperative communication systems, hybrid RF/FSO communication, quantum key distribution (QKD), intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS), and SDN-based optical networks. He has authored 19 research publications across reputed IEEE and Elsevier journals and international conferences. Notably, he led a 36 km QKD field trial at Southern Army HQ as part of India’s defence quantum communication initiative.
Dr. Kirubakaran has received the IEEE Best Paper Award (2024) and the Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN) Fellowship (2025). He actively contributes to TSDSI and ITU-T international standards on SDN-based optical networks for QKD, serves as a reviewer for Elsevier and IETE journals, and regularly delivers invited lectures at premier institutions across India.
Sandeep Sharma
Sandeep Sharma is a visionary technology leader and AI innovator with over two decades of experience driving transformation across 5G, O-RAN, AI-powered networks, and the evolving 6G landscape. As Vice President C Global Head of Emerging Technologies – Network Services at Tech Mahindra, he leads global initiatives that fuse artificial intelligence with next-generation connectivity to shape the future of digital networks.
A recognized thought leader in AI-led telecom transformation, Sandeep is at the forefront of initiatives such as AI for Network and Network for AI, redefining how intelligence is built into the very fabric of communication infrastructure. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing industry standards, building strategic alliances, and accelerating innovation across ecosystems.
A frequent speaker at global technology forums, Sandeep has authored influential whitepapers and thought pieces that are helping to define the 6G vision and the role of AI in the networks of tomorrow. His expertise in technology incubation, product strategy, and ecosystem development continues to inspire organizations worldwide to harness AI as a catalyst for transformative growth.
Satish Jamadagni
Satish Jamadagni is a Senior Vice President and head of Global Standards at Reliance Jio. He has about 25 years of industry experience in the telecom domain. He is the current Chair of TSDSI. He is active in 3GPP, GSMA (member of the Strategy Group) and in O-RAN alliance. Earlier he was a Co-Chair of the Asia Regional Operators Group; Small Cell Forum (SCF) and was on the board of the International Multimedia Teleconferencing Consortium (IMTC). He has around 200 granted patents in the wireless and network domain and around 30+ published papers.
Saurabh Khare
Saurabh Khare serves as the Chair of the Security Working Group at TSDSI and heads the Nokia 3GPP SA3 Security delegation. He has served as rapporteur for numerous studies in both 3GPP SA3 and TSDSI, making substantial contributions to advancements in mobile network security for 5G and 6G technologies. Recognized as a leading inventor globally at Nokia, Saurabh has filed more than 500 IPRs/patents in telecom domains, demonstrating his strong technical acumen and commitment to innovation. His expertise extends to key areas including the design and safeguarding of 5G and 6G network architectures.
Sean Kelley
Sean Kelley is a senior telecommunications standards expert and industry leader currently serving as the Chair of the 3GPP RAN3 Working Group. He has led Nokia’s delegation to 3GPP RAN3 since 2012 and has over 25 years of experience driving the development of global mobile network standards. Based in the Greater Chicago area, Sean plays a key role in advancing radio access network architecture, mobility management, and network protocols for 5G and emerging 6G systems. He is widely recognized for his contributions to international standardization and his leadership in fostering collaboration across the global telecommunications ecosystem.
Seiji NISHIOKA
Seiji NISHIOKA is the Secretary General of the XG Mobile Promotion Forum (XGMF) and Executive Director of the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB), Japan’s leading standards development organization for telecommunications, broadcasting, and radio communications. He plays a key role in promoting the evolution of 5G, beyond 5G, and 6G technologies, fostering collaboration among industry, academia, government, and international standards organizations. Through his leadership in ARIB and XGMF, Mr. Nishioka has been actively involved in advancing global harmonization, spectrum policy, technology innovation, and international cooperation for next-generation mobile communications. He is a recognized advocate for building globally aligned mobile ecosystems that accelerate the deployment and commercialization of future wireless technologies
SK Mishra
Dr. Saroj Kanta Mishra born in 1956 in the state of Odisha. Graduated in Medical Science in 1978 from MKCG Medical College, Berhampur , Master of General Surgery in 1983 from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research , Chandigarh. Founder, Professor & Head Department of Endocrine Surgery at SGPGIMS, Lucknow (1989-2021). Currently Emeritus Professor, Endocrine Surgery, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar.
Besides his academic career as a specialty endocrine surgeon he developed a passion for research and application of emerging Information and Communication Technology in healthcare and remote education and skill development for medical professionals. He was actively involved in development of Telemedicine Programme at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. He has also set up a School of Telemedicine & Biomedical Informatics at SGPGIMS, Lucknow in 2006. Supported by Government India & Govt. of U.P. He had been a Short Term Consultant to ITU, WHO, UNOOSA and World Bank in Telemedicine. Had been a member of eHealth Technical Advisory Group and later WHO Roster of Experts for Digital Health. Current research interest involves advanced telemedicine such as Connected health system using IOT, cloud, 5G , Remote patient monitoring, Surgical Telementoring, AI in Surgery, advanced e learning tolls like AR / VR / Metaverse for medical professionals skill development.
A.K. Mittal
Shri A.K. Mittal is the Director General of TSDSI.
He did his graduation in Electronics and Communications Engineering in 1976 from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. He also holds a Diploma in Management. He has a career of over 49 years in the field of Telecommunications.
He began his career in R&D at Indian Telephone Industries Ltd and later joined Department of Telecommunication (DoT), Government of India where he worked in a variety of domains like Satellite Communication, OFC, Microwave, Mobile Networks, Switching Systems, Network Management, Licensing, Regulation, Standards, Testing and Certification etc. He was the Head of Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC), the technology arm of DoT. He has also headed the National Telecom Institute of Policy Research, Innovation and Training, DoT. He has represented the Government of India in various bilateral and multilateral international meetings.
Sonali Garg
Dr. Sonali Garg, Vice Chair – Networks Study Group, TSDSI
Dr. Sonali Garg is currently working with HFCL Limited (a member of TSDSI) as a Senior Member of Technical Staff, where she focuses on standards research and the development of SEPs. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Bharat 6G Alliance Technology Working Group and is an active contributor to ITU-R WP5D SWG on Radio Aspects.
Her team’s research spans multiple areas of next-generation networks, with her personal focus on 6G technologies, including integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), channel coding, waveform design, and energy-efficient networks.
Dr. Garg obtained her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, where her research focused on LDPC codes.
Stuart Cooke
Stuart is the GSMA’s Senior Director of Future Spectrum. He oversees the GSMA’s range of advocacy issues on public policy relating to future spectrum, including World Radio Conferences, working alongside national governments and multilateral stakeholders.
Stuart’s career began with the UK spectrum regulator Radiocommunications Agency as part of the 3G auction team, before working across a breadth of international wireless tech companies and start-ups.
He has chaired various regional and global regulatory and industry groups focussed on wireless communications and continues to be active in shaping the future of future mobile services & technology at international fora such as the ITU, CEPT and other multilateral organisations.
Stuart earned a Masters & Degree in Radio Communications from the University of Hull, UK.
Sudhansu Sekhar Singh
Dr. Sudhansu Sekhar Singh has received a PhD in Engineering (In Wireless and mobile Communication domain) from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India and a M.E. in Electronic System and Communication Engineering from R.E.C (presently NIT) Rourkela, India. He is working as a Professor in School of Electronics Engineering, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India. He has more than 24 years of teaching experience and 8 years of other professional experience. More than 100(Hundred) publications in journals, Book Chapters and reputed international conference proceedings are to his credit. 4(Four) patent publications are also tohis credit. He has guided 28(Twenty Eight) PG thesis and 7( Seven) doctoral thesis. He has also examined several doctoral dissertations. His broad research area includes but not certainly limited to wireless and mobile communication, multicarrier CDMA, MIMO-OFDM, NOMA and Wireless Sensor Networks.
K. Sowjanya
Dr. K. Sowjanya is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) Allahabad. She obtained her Ph.D. from NIT Raipur and subsequently served as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at IIT Hyderabad and IIT Delhi. Her research interests include 5G/6G network security, Open RAN security, authentication protocols, IoT security, cryptography, quantum-safe communications, and telecom standardization. She has published extensively in reputed international journals and conferences and actively contributes to 3GPP and TSDSI standardization activities. She is a recipient of the TSDSI Outstanding Technical Contribution Award (2024–25) and holds multiple patents in telecom and network security.
Sundaram Vanka
Prof. Sundaram Vanka is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad. he is an inventor of 13 US patents, 1 book chapter, 5 international journal publications and 11 international conference publications and multiple invited talks in the US and in India. He currently serves on the Editorial Board of IEEE Wireless Communications Letters. he is an affiliate faculty to the Department of Artificial Intelligence at IITH. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and holds both B.Tech. and M.Tech. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
Prior to joining IIT Hyderabad in 2021, Dr. Vanka built an extensive industry career in wireless communications. He served as a Master Engineer in the Wireless Systems Architecture Group at Broadcom, where he led research and development initiatives focused on interference management, coexistence technologies, low-power operation, and low-latency connectivity for advanced Wi-Fi and Bluetooth systems. He was also among the early designers of Wi-Fi chipsets at Silicon Labs (formerly Redpine Signals).
Dr. Vanka’s research interests encompass the mathematical modeling, simulation, and prototyping of wireless communication systems and networks, with particular emphasis on low-power wireless technologies and next-generation communication systems. His work bridges academic research and industrial innovation, contributing to advancements in wireless networking, interference management, and emerging communication technologies.
With expertise spanning both industry and academia, Dr. Vanka continues to contribute to the development of advanced wireless communication technologies through research, teaching, and collaboration with the global telecommunications community.
Suresh Kumar Karthikeyan
Mr Suresh is a wireless network enthusiast and open-source supporter. After completing his Bachelor’s in Electronics and Communication Engineering from College of Engineering Guindy, he worked on building wireless and cellular communication networks including LTE, 5G, LPWAN, LoWPAN and UWB Networks for over a decade. He is the Co-founder and CTO of Susan Future Technologies Private Limited, leading the venture with a vision to build a sustainable future. He is also pursuing master’s research in 5G non-cellular Radio Access Network at IIT Madras.
He actively contributes to national and global telecom standardization efforts, including the study of High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) and 6G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) in TSDSI Networks Study Group. He has contributed to the Technical Performance Requirements of IMT2030 at ITU-R through TSDSI. He has also contributed to India’s NFAP-2025.
Suresh Chitturi
Suresh Chitturi is currently the Senior Director, and Head of Technology Standards at Samsung Research – Bangalore, and serving as the TSDSI Vice-Chair since 2022. He has over 25 years of experience in the mobile technology industry and is responsible for research and standardization of emerging wireless and connectivity technologies in global and regional standardization bodies such as 3GPP, ITU, FiRa, IEEE and TSDSI.
He served as the Chair of 3GPP SA6 Working Group (2018-2022) and Vice-Chair (2015-2018), which is responsible for application enablement and critical communications applications standards for vertical markets.
He holds a Master of Science degree, in Computer Sciences from University of North Texas, a graduate of Executive Thought Leadership program from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), and an accomplished individual with several publications and granted patents
Tarun Chitkara
With over 25 years of experience in Airtel’s regulatory function, Tarun has successfully handled a broad spectrum of operational, strategic, and sensitive issues. He possesses a deep understanding of the Indian regulatory environment, especially since its privatization. His role involves extensive engagement with government bodies and industry associations to represent and advance the company’s interests. He specializes in telecom licensing, M&A, spectrum, and economic regulations.
T.V. Ramachandran
T.V. Ramachandran is a veteran telecom industry leader and policy expert with decades of experience in India’s digital communications sector. He currently serves as the President of Broadband India Forum (BIF), a leading industry think tank focused on broadband, digital infrastructure, satellite communications, and technology policy in India.
He has been associated with the Indian telecom industry since the early years of mobile telephony in the country. T.V. Ramachandran was the first CEO of Sterling Cellular in Delhi and later played a pioneering role in establishing and leading the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) for nearly 12 years, where he contributed significantly to the growth and policy development of India’s mobile communications ecosystem.
Apart from his industry leadership roles, he is also the Founder & CEO of advisory@TVR, a strategic advisory and policy consulting initiative focused on telecom, broadband, and digital technologies. He is widely recognized for his expertise in telecom regulation, public policy, spectrum management, broadband expansion, and emerging digital infrastructure technologies.
Over the years, T.V. Ramachandran has been associated with several national and international industry initiatives and has received multiple recognitions for his contributions to India’s telecom sector, including the Voice & Data Lifetime Contribution Award for his role in advancing mobile telephony in India. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET, London) and the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE)
Theo Spathopoulos
Theo Spathopoulos is a Senior Specialist in Nokia’s Spectrum Standardisation team. With expertise across both the mobile and satellite communication domains, he has led strategic public and private initiatives through roles at Nokia, Inmarsat, and Ofcom. At Nokia, Theo leads the organisation’s international spectrum regulatory and policy strategy for emerging technologies, including Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), Enterprise and Defence communications. Theo serves as Vice-Chair of the UK Spectrum Policy Forum steering board, driving engagement in key spectrum policy debates and research initiatives in the UK. Theo is also an expert member of the NTN working group under the UK Telecoms Innovation Network, where he collaborates with industry and academia to develop a national NTN technology roadmap for 6G. Theo holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), an MSc in Mobile and Satellite Communications from the University of Surrey (UK), and an MSc in Computer Science from Georgia Tech (USA). He has authored and co-authored a rich portfolio of conference publication on hybrid TN-NTN architectures and 5G technologies.
Timothy O'Farrell FREng
Timothy O’Farrell FREng is Chair Professor in Wireless Communication at the University of Sheffield, UK. He is internationally recognised for his research expertise in waveform design, software-defined radio, and energy-efficient mobile radio systems. He has led over 26 major research projects, published extensively and cofounded a start-up company. Tim is the UKRI National 6G Radio Systems Facility director, an mVCE director, a member of the DSIT Colleges of Experts and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers.
Tirumaleswar Reddy K
Tirumaleswar Reddy leads security and privacy standardization efforts and security research at Nokia. He is a Principal Researcher Lead with 25 years of experience in delivering cutting-edge solutions in network security and IoT/endpoint protection. Renowned for his strategic vision and technical innovation, he has consistently driven impactful advancements in security architectures and Internet standards.
He possesses deep expertise in the design and development of secure systems across a wide range of domains, including Network/Cloud Security, Security-as-a-Service, Next-gen Firewalls, Intrusion Prevention Systems , IPsec, Home Network Security, and VoIP security.
He has authored 39 RFCs, and currently serves as co-chair of the TEEP Working Group at the IETF. A recognized thought leader, he holds 152 granted and 60 pending U.S. patents in areas such as PQC, Attestation, Network Security, DDoS mitigation, UE/IoT security, Blockchain, Network Function Virtualization, Service Function Chaining, and Identity Management.
Vijay Madan
Mr. Madan is currently associated with TSDSI as Advisor & Mentor with special focus on standardization in Services & Solutions relating to evolving technologies & applications, vertical sectors use cases, Security & Crypto, IoT, Drone Services, Cloud Computing, PPDR, Future ICT enabling systems. Also, with JWGs / Focus connected with oneM2M, 3GPP, ITU-T. He is an Elect Comm Engineer with PG in Business Administration. Multiple certifications and fellowships in other subjects including research fellowship at foreign University.
He started his 55 Years long Professional career in R&D at Telecommunications Research Centre, Department of Telecom (DoT), he has headed C-DOT, Premier Telecom R&D Centre. He was also chief Mentor of a TATA group organization besides other multiple assignments in India and Abroad.
Vinay Shrivastava
Mr. Vinay Shrivastava serves as 6G Ecosystem and Standardization Architect at Nokia. With over two decades of experience spanning wireless systems, spectrum management, and international standardization, Vinay has contributed to the evolution of multiple generations of mobile technologies. He has made significant technical contributions to 3GPP championing India centric normative work and is actively engaged in global spectrum studies, representing India in ITU-R meetings related to WRC-27 preparation cycle. Vinay has also played an active role in shaping India’s 6G journey through TSDSI, leading technical studies on future spectrum, next-generation radio technologies, and ISAC.
Vinosh James
Dr. Vinosh joined Qualcomm in 2011 and has served over the years in roles spanning technology and standardization. He has responsibility for Qualcomm’s standardization engagements in India and Southeast Asia. He is an expert technologist with years of experience on product regulation. He engages Indian & international stakeholders on matters related to radio standardization and regulation.
He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras, with a specialization in wireless communication. He specializes on cellular mobile communication system design and his areas of expertise covers topics including the design and development of next-generation terrestrial & non-terrestrial broadband and broadcasting systems.
Vinosh is the convener of the 5G India Forum (5GIF) and is a committee member at various regulatory bodies including the TEC and TSDSI. He is a prolific speaker and serves as academic advisor to several research scholars. He is also a senior member of the IEEE.
VK Roy
V.K. Roy is Advisor–Networks at TSDSI and a distinguished telecom professional with over three decades of experience in telecommunications policy, standards, innovation, and international cooperation. He served as Vice-Chairman of ITU-T Study Group 2 during 2022–2024 where he played a significant role in global telecom standardization. He has also made notable contributions towards international standards development through active participation in ITU-R, ITU-T, 3GPP and has worked as ITU expert in development of SOP for Bhutan’s mission under ITU-D sector.
An Indian Telecommunication Service (ITS) officer of the 1995 batch, he has held several key leadership positions in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, including Deputy Director General (Radio), Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), Deputy Director General (Standards, Research and Innovation) at DoT Headquarters, and Director (Mobile Technologies) at TEC. He contribution significantly as drafting member of Bharat 6G vision document. A graduate in Electronics Engineering from NIT Calicut with an MBA specializing in International Business and Finance.
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