In a strategic dialogue, India’s Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Ireland’s Jack Chambers outlined a roadmap for deepened cooperation across cutting-edge domains. From AI and quantum tech to rural broadband and regulatory sandboxes, the possibilities are boundless for these innovation powerhouses.
Held in New Delhi, the meeting underscored mutual support in global forums like the ITU, where India eyes Ireland’s backing. Scindia painted a vivid picture of India’s digital leap: 1.23 billion telecom users, one billion internet subscribers, and 5G blanketing nearly every district at rock-bottom prices—$0.10/GB for data.
‘Our voice and data tariffs are unmatched worldwide,’ Scindia noted, crediting DPI pillars like UPI for revolutionizing payments and DBT for efficient governance. These feats position India as a digital superpower since 2014.
Chambers reciprocated by detailing Ireland’s ambitious National Broadband Plan, targeting universal high-speed access in remote regions. He lauded Indian talent fueling Ireland’s tech boom and spotlighted massive fiber optic investments running into billions of euros.
The talks delved into synergies between DoT and Ireland’s telecom regulator, fostering exchanges with universities, startups, and corporations. Complementary advantages shine through: India’s scale meets Ireland’s R&D prowess and EU-compliant policies.
Bilateral trade is surging, integral to India-EU relations. Pledging joint ITU efforts and expertise sharing, the ministers set the stage for a future-proof digital alliance that could reshape global connectivity standards.