India-ITU Partner to Leverage AI-Powered Digital Twin for Smart Infrastructure

New Delhi | Geneva: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have signed a Letter of Intent to explore AI-driven Digital Twin technologies for advanced infrastructure planning.

This strategic partnership was formalized during an official visit to Geneva by Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), DoT, aimed at strengthening India’s role in global digital leadership and fostering international cooperation in telecommunications.

DoT’s “Sangam: Digital Twin” initiative creates a virtual replica of physical infrastructure, including telecom networks. This initiative enables real-time monitoring, simulation, and analysis to enhance infrastructure planning and development.

By integrating advanced technologies like AI and 5G, Digital Twin optimizes decision-making, improves efficiency and supports future-ready digital infrastructure. 

Key Objectives of the Collaboration

The Letter of Intent lays the foundation for collaborative initiatives in:

• AI-Driven Digital Twin Technologies – Leveraging AI to create virtual replicas of infrastructure for real-time planning and optimization.
• Global Standards and Best Practices – Promoting seamless interoperability and scalability of emerging technologies.
• Sustainable Development – Enhancing capacity-building efforts and cross-sector collaboration for eco-friendly urban development.
• Citizen Engagement – Utilizing participatory approaches to urban planning and infrastructure projects.

India’s Commitment to Global Digital Innovation

During his visit, Dr Mittal held discussions with ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, reiterating India’s dedication to digital connectivity, inclusion and innovation.

The discussions focused on India’s leadership in 5G-6G technologies, AI for digital transformation and cybersecurity frameworks. India also reaffirmed its commitment to ITU’s Partner2Connect initiative, which aims to bridge the global digital divide.

Proposal to Host ITU-Plenipotentiary Conference 2030

To further its role in global telecom policy, India has proposed hosting the ITU-Plenipotentiary Conference 2030, a key decision-making event in international telecommunications governance.

As per the government, the proposal was well received, with discussions set to continue at the ITU Council Meeting.

AI-Driven Digital Twin Technologies

Modern telecom technologies are evolving beyond basic connectivity to become essential tools for infrastructure innovation. AI and digital twins are expected to revolutionize sectors like transport, urban development and healthcare, enabling dynamic, data-driven decision-making. These advancements will:

• Facilitate real-time simulations for urban planning.
• Enhance the efficiency of resource allocation.
• Drive sustainable growth through AI-powered insights.

Key Areas of Focus in the Collaboration

• Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building – DoT’s Sangam and ITU’s Citiverse will collaborate on improving cross-sectoral data integration.
• Global Standards Development – Contributions to ITU-T Study Group 20 for IoT, digital twins, and smart cities.
• Sandbox Environments & Demonstrations – Establishing controlled environments to test and validate AI-driven digital twin solutions.
• Citizen Engagement & Simulations – Using AI-powered platforms for participatory urban planning and governance.
• Privacy & Mobile Phone Data (MPD) – Developing privacy-enhancing techniques (PETs) for ICT-based urban planning.
• AI Model Integration – Customizing AI models with country-specific datasets for better urban mobility solutions.

This collaboration signals a significant shift in the telecom sector, evolving from merely providing connectivity to enabling smart, data-driven infrastructure planning.

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