Shri Devusinh Chauhan hails from Kheda District of Gujarat. He possesses educational qualification in Electrical Engineering. He also earned degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. He has undergone a course at King’s College, London.

He started his career as an Engineer in Akashvani Kendra under Ministry of information and Broadcasting, where he worked for 13 years. Following his call of public service, he quit his well-paid and secured government job in 2002 to enter into public life to serve the masses, especially those who are at the bottom of socio-economic pyramid. Shri Devusinh Chauhan won Gujarat Legislative Assembly election from Matar constituency of Kheda District in 2007. He retained the same seat in year 2012. He entered the 16th Lok Sabha (Lower House) after winning the Lok Sabha constituency of Kheda in 2014. He has been re-elected from the same constituency in 2019 also.

He has been inducted as the Minister of State for Communications in the Council of Ministers headed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on 8th July, 2021. The Ministry of Communications comprises of Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Department of Posts (DoP). Shri Devusinh Chauhan has been instrumental in carrying out several telecommunications and postal reforms in DoT and DoP respectively. Wireless Licensing Reforms, Postal Reforms, Human Resource Reforms in terms of implementing Mission Karmayogi are some of the major citizen centric initiatives which have facilitated the ‘ease of doing business’ and ‘easy of living’ for industries and citizens of the country. Connecting the unconnected by providing fiber and 4G services in rural areas, providing the banking facilities through Department of Posts to every village, Insurance cover for shramiks and people belonging to lower strata of society and security of telecom network are some of the very important projects which have been undertaken by him.

He has served as Member of Parliamentary Committee on Water Resources and Defence, Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Communications and IT and Ministry of Food Processing.

Dr Neeraj Mittal is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer belonging to the 1992 Tamil Nadu cadre and presently working as Chairman, Digital Communication Commission (DCC) and Secretary, DoT since Sept, 2023. He completed his graduation from IIT Kanpur and holds MBA degree from Cranfield University, UK. He completed his PhD degree in Economics from Ohio State University, USA.

Dr Neeraj Mittal held several senior positions before joining DoT, including CMD of TN Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Chennai and Principal Secretary (IT) in the Government of Tamil Nadu and many more.

Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is an officer of the Indian Railway Service of Engineers from the 1984 batch. He had superannuated as Chairman & CEO, Railway Board on 31st August 2023 after a career spanning about 37 years Indian Railway. He is a graduate in Civil Engineering from Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior, with gold medal and has master’s degree in engineering (Structures) from IIT Roorkee. He has worked in various positions in the Central, Northern, North Central, Western, and West Central Railway, as well as in the Railway Board.

Besides Chairman & CEO, Railway Board, some of the important positions held by Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti include Member Infrastructure, Railway Board, General Manager of Central Railway and Western Railway, Divisional Railway Manager, Lucknow, Northern Railway, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Northern Railway and Executive Director, Railway Board. Post his retirement, Ministry of Railway had appointed him to a One-Man Expert Committee for improvement in inspection and maintenance of track. In December 2023, Gati Shakti Vishvavidyalaya, Vadodara, a Central University appointed him as a Distinguished Visiting Professor.

His expertise includes railway operations, track maintenance, project execution and station redevelopment. During his illustrious career, Shri Lahoti initiated several reforms in execution of infrastructure projects and took several initiatives to modernize and mechanize track maintenance on Indian Railways. During his stints as CRB & CEO, GM and DRM, he brought about significant improvement in freight transport performance and took several customer friendly initiatives to improve the quality of service and ease the customer interface. He has also extensively contributed to planning and structuring of station redevelopment projects in various positions served by him.

Shri Lahoti has travelled to various countries in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia in connection with official assignments. He has undertaken executive training programmes at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA, SDA Bocconi Business School, Milan, Italy and Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.

He was born to Freedom Fighter Late Shri Ratan Lal Lahoti and Late Smt. Kanchan Devi Lahoti at Guna, M.P. and is the younger brother of former Chief Justice of India Late Justice R.C. Lahoti. His wife is a homemaker and his son is a working professional in Bangaluru.

Shri R. K. Pathak is a Director General, Bharat 6G Alliance, He has done his B.E. Hons. (Electrical) and M Tech (Power Electronics). He has more than 33 years of experience in different disciplines including entrepreneurship, standardization and promotion, development of manufacturing of telecom equipment, and investment promotions. He is the nodal officer for the implementation of 5G technology. He is former Deputy Director General (International Cooperation) in the Department of Telecom and was looking after work related to WTO, economic cooperation agreements, standardization, promotion of telecom exports, and Telecom Centre of Excellences, India (TCOE India). He has additional responsibilities as Secretary, of TEPC, and also Director, of TCOE India.

Shri Manish Sinha is a 1989 batch officer of Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service. In the service, he has had vital experience in dealing with billing systems and the FMS software in MTNL and thereafter he had experience in Banking and Vigilance sections in BSNL. He has worked in Planning and Procurement Division of Department of Telecommunications followed by another stint in DoT as DDG License Finance. He has dealt with the entre gamut of licenses and spectrum during his stay in TRAI for two and half years. In addition, he has also worked for four and half years in the Department of Post dealing with all Postal services, banking, PLI etc. He has been innovative in his approach and managed to make many useful changes in the Department of Post as well as in Department of Telecommunications.

Shri Manish Sinha is an alumni of St. Stephens College at Delhi University wherein he completed his M.A. in History in 1989. Thereafter, he has done a PG Diploma in Financial Management from IGNOU followed by a MBA from University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. Recently in 2016, he also obtained a M. Phil degree from Punjab University as a part of the APPPA programme at IIPA. He was also a recipient of the Silver Medal in this programme. Subject of research for his M. Phil course was ‘Net Neutrality’.

At present, Mr. Manish Sinha has been appointed as Member Finance of Digital Communications Commission, Department of Telecommunications from 15 th July, 2022

Shri Deb kumar Chakrabarti, an esteemed officer from the 1988 batch of the Indian Telecommunications Service (ITS), brings over 34 years of experience in telecommunications, public policy, and management.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and a Master’s in Public Policy and Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, New York.

Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Chakrabarti has held key positions in the Department of Telecommunications, Telecom PSUs, TRAI, and ISRO. He has made significant contributions in the fields of management, human resources, remote sensing, emerging technologies, and regulations.

Shri Syed Tausif Abbas is currently working as Sr. DDG & Head, TEC, responsible for the development of Standardization and Specifications, Mandatory Testing and Certification (MTCTE), developing Technology and R&D, International Coordination and Management of TEC and Regional TECs. He belongs to 1989 Batch of Indian Telecom Service officers and has got more than 30 years of experience in Telecom Sector. He has worked in various positions in telecom domains covering Telecom Projects, Telecom operations, capacity building & training division, licensing, regulatory and policy formulation. Prior to joining as Head, TEC; he worked as Principal Advisor, TRAI, where he was associated with the regulatory and licensing work related to Broadcasting & Cable Services including Cable TV, Satellite TV(DTH), IPTV, Radio broadcasting, Digital Addressable System, 5G Broadcast etc. He was associated with the works related to Mobile Networks, Spectrum and Telecom Licensing matters including 5G Technologies, M2M Communications, IoT, PPDR Communications, Satellite Communications, Spectrum for IMT-2020 and Mobile Number Portability.

Shri Abbas is an Engineering Graduate in Electronics & Telecommunications from University of Allahabad.

Shri Ritu Ranjan Mittar is an Indian Telecommunication Services Officer of 1985 Batch. With over 35 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Sh. Mittar has worked on various projects related to the development and deployment of the telecommunications network. He has contributed to policy making in Department of Telecommunications, Govt. of India. He has also been involved in the development of various technical standards and specifications for the telecommunications industry, including Quantum, 5G, IoT, and M2M technologies.

He is actively participating in the meetings of standards development organizations, viz., ITU, ETSI, APT, WRC, etc. and also interacts with other international fora, viz., 3GPP, ETSI, IETF, One M2M, etc. He held the important leadership position from India as Chairman of International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) Study Group 11, which deals with the international standardization of “Signalling requirements, protocols, test specifications and combating counterfeit telecommunication/ICT devices”.

He was Advisor and headed the Telecommunication Engineering Centre, the technical and standardization arm of Department of Telecommunications, Govt. of India. He also chaired the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), 2024. At present, he is Member in Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Mrs. Madhu Arora, a HAG grade ITS officer of 1986 batch, has joined as Member (Technology), Digital Communication Commission. Prior to this, she served as CGM, Telecom West Bengal circle from September 2021 to January 2024 and joined as Sr DDG (Licensing), DoT HQ on 01-01- 2024.

Her academic credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication from Delhi College of Engineering, an MBA from the University of Queensland, and an LLB from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University.

A distinguished graduate of the 1986 ITS batch, Mrs. Madhu Arora has built an impressive 36-year career marked by academic excellence and significant contributions to the telecom sector. Topping the batch, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. Her pivotal role in restructuring Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) exemplifies her impact. Recognized for her dynamism, focus, and empathy, she is now in best position to drive the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) towards further advancements in technology and digital communication.

Her appointment underscores the Indian government’s dedication to harness top talent to drive innovation and development in the telecommunications sector, reaffirming India’s position as a leader in technological evolution and inclusive development.

Dr. Revathi Mannepalli Joined Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing as a Group A officer in 1996 through Indian Engineering Services (IES) exam. Cadre is IRRS (Indian Radio Regulatory Services)Representing as Frequency Expert from Asia Pacific Region in the Frequency Working Party (FWP) of International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation, Headquarter at Washington, USA Assisted DoS as spectrum regulatory expert in dealing International arbitration cases at the International Court of Justice, The Hague.Contributed and attended various meetings on spectrum management at International Telecommunications (ITU) level and also at Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) regional level Past experience: Radio frequency interference resolution, Spectrum Auctions.

Amit Gulati is a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics from the North Maharashtra University and Masters in Business Administration from Faculty of Management Studies. He is an officer from the Indian Radio Regulatory Service and has over 22 years of experience in spectrum management in various domains including Spectrum monitoring. He is currently the Senior Deputy Wireless Advisor in the Satellite Division of the Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing in the Department of Telecommunications, looking after key issues such as policy issues relating to frequency assignment of existing and new satellite networks, and Satellite Network Filing.

Thomas Hastings is the Associate Chief of the Space Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) where he helps oversee legal and policy matters involving satellite communications, commercial space activities, and spectrum management. Prior to joining the Space Bureau’s leadership, he worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, advising on telecommunications, media, and spectrum legislation and matters as the FCC’s counsel on detail. Previously, he served as an Attorney Advisor in the FCC’s Wireless Bureau.

Before joining the FCC, Tom practiced law at a large international law firm, where he represented clients, including space and satellite interests, before the FCC. Before that, he worked at a startup satellite operator where he assisted in pursuing international regulatory and licensing initiatives. His experience spans government, industry, and private practice, with a focus on the legal and regulatory frameworks that enable innovation, commercial space, and global satellite communications. He earned a J.D. from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Shri Anand Khare, Member (Services), brings 36 years of extensive telecommunications experience to the Department. He spent over 19 years with BSNL, rising to DE/DGM, and then served as a Project Manager at TCIL for five years, overseeing World Bank-funded projects in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. As General Manager in Ropar, Punjab, he significantly expanded rural mobile services. He represented BSNL on the EIG Consortium Management Committee, managing a 15,000 km submarine cable project from India to the UK. He also served as PGM (Material Management, Mobile and CFA) at BSNL CO for seven years. Prior to his current role, he was Addl DG DoT in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In March 2025, he assumed the position of Member (Services) at the DCC.

The total experience of Mr. Dua accounts to more than 35 years in the telecom sector. His experience includes all facets of telecom be it Product Development, Business Development, Telecom Licensing, Regulatory issues with respect to interconnection / roaming / unified licensing and infrastructure sharing / Mobile Number Portability, Spectrum Management, Spectrum Related Issues Like Spectrum Pricing, Efficient Utilization and Spectrum reframing, finalization of joint ventures, Technical collaboration, Introduction of new product, Launch of cellular services in India and finalization of licence agreements / interconnect agreements etc.Over the years in the industry, Mr. Dua have held prestigious positions as Director in leading telecom companies like Bharti Airtel Ltd., Shyam Telecom Ltd., Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), Vice Chairman and Global ICT Standardization Forum for India. Mr. Dua is an engineering graduate with diploma in Business Management and export Marketing.

Mr S.N. Gupta, an internationally recognized expert in NGN technologies, regulation, and broadband, brings over 40 years of comprehensive telecom experience, including 25 years with government and regulatory bodies. Publicly acclaimed as an Analyst, Author, Advocate, and Advisor on ICT policies, projects, and business, he is globally known as "NGNguru."

A triple master in Electronics Design Technology, IT Management, and Telecom Policy & Regulation, his career began with the Ministry of Communication in 1981, earning the Minister of Railways Award for his work on the Delhi Area Digitalization Project. He is the author of "Everything over IP - All you want to know about NGN" and the conceptual work "Job Factory - Converting Unemployment into Entrepreneurship." His recent research, "Long Tail - Walking the Extra Mile on Rural Broadband Business," outlines sustainable rural broadband models.

Currently, he serves as Chairman of BLUETOWN, India & BIMSTEC, S. Asia, driving partnerships to connect the world's rural populations. He is also the Honorary Secretary General of ITU-APT Foundation of India, Vice-President and Trustee of DCIF, and chairs the BIF committee on Rural Digital Infrastructure.

A dedicated trainer and regulatory advocate, he founded the NGN Forum in India and recently established the Blockchain for Productivity Forum as its Chairman. As an expert panel member for the Commonwealth Telecom Organisation, he conducts training on NGN, broadband policy, spectrum management, IPv6, AI, and Blockchain. He is the first Indian recipient of the IPv6 Hall of Fame – 2019 entry and Chairman of the India IPv6 Council.

Dr. V. Narayanan, Distinguished Scientist (Apex Grade), assumed the charge of Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman, Space Commission and Chairman, ISRO on the afternoon of 13th January, 2025. Prior to this, he served as Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), one of the major Centres of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), with its headquarters at Valiamala in Thiruvananthapuram and a unit at Bangalore. As Director, he provided techno-managerial leadership to LPSC, which is engaged in the development of Liquid, Semi-Cryogenic and Cryogenic Propulsion Stages for Launch Vehicles, Chemical and Electric Propulsion Systems for Satellites, Control Systems for Launch Vehicles and Transducer development for propulsion system health monitoring.

Dr. V. Narayanan, who is a Rocket & Spacecraft Propulsion Expert, joined ISRO in 1984 and functioned in various capacities. During the initial phase, for 4½ years, he worked in the Solid Propulsion area of Sounding Rockets and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). He contributed to process planning, process control and realization of Ablative nozzle systems, Composite motor cases and Composite Igniter cases.

In 1989, he completed his M.Tech in Cryogenic Engineering with First Rank at IIT-Kharagpur and joined the Cryogenic Propulsion area in Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). ISRO's Geosynchronous launch vehicles, namely GSLV Mk-II & GSLV Mk-III, capable of placing 2-Tonne & 4-Tonne class Communication Satellites in Geo Transfer Orbit, have Cryogenic Propulsion Stages as terminal stages.

As one of the few Cryogenic members working in this area in the beginning, he carried out fundamental research, theoretical & experimental studies and contributed to the successful development and testing of Cryogenic subsystems, namely Gas Generator, Sub-scale Cryogenic engine of 1-tonne thrust and Thrust Chamber of 12-tonne thrust.

Considering the long lead time required for the development of the Cryogenic stage of GSLV Mk-II vehicle, for meeting the initial flights, a few cryogenic stage hardware were procured from Russia. As an expert in Cryogenic propulsion, he contributed to the development of mission management systems, contract management and the successful flights of the GSLV Mk-II vehicle with procured cryogenic stages.

Shri Syed Tausif Abbas is currently working as Sr. DDG & Head, TEC, responsible for the development of Standardization and Specifications, Mandatory Testing and Certification (MTCTE), developing Technology and R&D, International Coordination and Management of TEC and Regional TECs. He belongs to 1989 Batch of Indian Telecom Service officers and has got more than 30 years of experience in Telecom Sector. He has worked in various positions in telecom domains covering Telecom Projects, Telecom operations, capacity building & training division, licensing, regulatory and policy formulation. Prior to joining as Head, TEC; he worked as Principal Advisor, TRAI, where he was associated with the regulatory and licensing work related to Broadcasting & Cable Services including Cable TV, Satellite TV(DTH), IPTV, Radio broadcasting, Digital Addressable System, 5G Broadcast etc. He was associated with the works related to Mobile Networks, Spectrum and Telecom Licensing matters including 5G Technologies, M2M Communications, IoT, PPDR Communications, Satellite Communications, Spectrum for IMT-2020 and Mobile Number Portability.

Shri Abbas is an Engineering Graduate in Electronics & Telecommunications from University of Allahabad.

Isabelle Mauro is Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) that represents the interests of 70 members in the satellite ecosystem. She reports directly to their Chief Executives.

Under Isabelle’s leadership, GSOA and its member CEOs lead the effort to showcase the benefits of satellite communications for a more inclusive and secure society – vital to bridging the world’s digital divide, achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and realizing the 5G ecosystem.

Isabelle has 25 years experience in the Telecoms and Technology sector, starting at the GSMA, where she was responsible for government and international Affairs. In 2015 she moved to New York to join the World Economic Forum as Head of Information, Communications and Technology Industries, managing the portfolio for 60+ Tech companies globally and leading initiatives on inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.

Isabelle is passionate about inclusion and sustainability. She is Chair of the High-Level Advisory Board of the DigitalGoesGreen Foundation. She also sits on the Advisory Board of Women in Tech and is a member of the UNESCO Advisory Group for the Declaration on Connectivity for Education.

Isabelle holds an MSc in European Politics and Policy from the London School of Economics. She is fluent in French, English, Italian and Spanish.

Udrivolf is a Space engineer / rocket scientist by degree and citizen of the world, Udri spent his early career in Earth observation and remote sensing, doing research in systems engineering and eventually supporting the European Commission on their Earth observation programme Copernicus. He then moved into the world of spectrum and regulatory affairs, developing skills and expertise on non-GSO systems. He eventually landed at SpaceX where he is responsible for managing International Telecommunication Union (ITU) affairs. Udri’s mission is to support updating ITU rules to maximise efficient use of spectrum resources, so that Starlink (as well as all other NGSO systems) can connect the largest possible number of users around the world with the best possible service.

Donna Bethea-Murphy has over 20 years of work experience in various roles related to regulatory affairs and technology policy. Donna started their career at Airtouch Communications in 1995 as the Director of Technology and Regulatory Affairs. Donna then moved on to PanAmSat in 1997, where they served as the Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs. In 2004, they joined Iridium Satellite LLC as the Vice President of Regulatory, where they were responsible for driving public policy, regulatory affairs, and legislative strategy for the company. During their time at Iridium Satellite, Donna successfully executed domestic and international policy and spectrum campaigns and advised the CEO and C-Level leadership on legislative and regulatory activities. In 2015, they transitioned to Inmarsat, where they currently hold the position of Senior Vice President of Global Regulatory and Technology Policy.

John Dodd is the Director of Maritime Safety Services at Inmarsat, responsible for the operation, regulatory and delivery requirements of current and future Maritime Safety Services within the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). John works closely with external authorities such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), Rescue Coordination Centres (RCC) and Maritime Safety Information Providers (MSIPs) to ensure Inmarsat Safety Services continue to be the market leaders and pioneers in protecting and saving lives at sea.

John joined Inmarsat in 2014 as the Senior Product Manager Maritime Safety and Regulatory, responsible for the Maritime Safety portfolio and development of new safety services. John is responsible for the further development and implementation of the latest Inmarsat Safety Services, Fleet Safety, RescueNET and SafetyNET II, providing GMDSS and safety services to both seafarers and shore side authorities globally over multiple satellite constellations.

John has over 25 years’ experience in the communications industry, with his career starting in the British Military as a Telecommunications Operator Telegraphist, highly experienced in designing, developing and deploying all mediums of radio and satellite communications. On leaving the armed forces, John joined an Inmarsat partner as their Technical Manager, responsible for training and technical implementation of satellite communication systems including GMDSS and security systems.

Tony Azzarelli, serves as OneWeb’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, responsible for spectrum, licensing activities and market access. He has more than 25 year experience in the telecommunication sector with appointments at the UK Regulator Ofcom, Inmarsat, ICO Global Communications, The Boeing Company, the European Space Agency and as an independent regulatory consultant. With his previous appointment at Ofcom, Tony lead the UK national and international regulatory policy for space, science and radio-astronomy services, working closely with the satellite operators, UK government bodies and the international stakeholders. In his previous industry appointments, Tony always strived to initiate, develop and promote global harmonised policies for space and terrestrial telecom technologies on the move.

Accomplished sales leader with 22+ years of driving revenue growth, enterprise sales, and business development across telecom, satellite communications, and ICT sectors. Proven track record of leading multi-million-dollar deals, exceeding sales targets, and expanding market presence across Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Expert in CXO-level client engagement, GTM strategy execution, and large-scale deal negotiations. Skilled in building high-performance teams, fostering strategic partnerships, and delivering data-driven solutions that drive business transformation and customer satisfaction.

Credentials: MIT (Technology, Leadership & Innovation) | MBA (Finance & Strategy) – XLRI, Jamshedpur | B.E. (Electronics & Communications) – BITS, Mesra

Specialties:

• Sales Leadership & Business Growth
• Strategic Planning & GTM Execution
• Large Deal Negotiations & Contract Management
• Key Account Management & CXO Engagement
• ICT Strategy & Digital Transformation

Mr Bashir Patel serves as Inmarsat's Regional Advisor for the South Asia, Middle East, and Africa (SAMEA) region. He is widely recognized as a highly experienced executive in ICT, satellite systems, and defense aerospace, with over 35 years in the high-tech industry.

His extensive career spans management consulting, regional regulatory policy, and business and market development within the telecom, satellite, and defense sectors. Notably, he has collaborated with governments across various regions, launching satellite communications technologies as early as the mid-1980s.

A passionate technologist, his experience includes advanced aerospace projects at BAe Systems, Inmarsat, and ICO Global Communications. Prior to rejoining Inmarsat in 2013, he was Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), engaging with 54 Commonwealth Governments globally.

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Sales and Business Leader with 20+ years of proven experience in accelerating Enterprise Sales with Government, Large Corporates, Telecom operators, SI’s in India and Asia. Built CXO connects and working level relationships with Government, Regulatory and Private Sector for achieving the desired growth outcomes. Excellent exposure to Satellite , NTN, Telecom, Industrial IoT, Smart City and Manufacturing. Have delivered triple digit growth in every role I held in the past

Specialties: Business Development , Go to Market , Management , Operations ,Strategic Partnership, Funding ,M&A and Channel Management

Interest Area's : Satellite , NB IoT , Telecommunications , Big Data , Start Ups, Smart City and Manufacturing

Udrivolf is a Space engineer / rocket scientist by degree and citizen of the world, Udri spent his early career in Earth observation and remote sensing, doing research in systems engineering and eventually supporting the European Commission on their Earth observation programme Copernicus. He then moved into the world of spectrum and regulatory affairs, developing skills and expertise on non-GSO systems. He eventually landed at SpaceX where he is responsible for managing International Telecommunication Union (ITU) affairs. Udri’s mission is to support updating ITU rules to maximise efficient use of spectrum resources, so that Starlink (as well as all other NGSO systems) can connect the largest possible number of users around the world with the best possible service.

Dr. Sendil Kumar Devar is currently responsible for leading standardization and spectrum engagements in India. He works closely with the national, regional and global working groups related to standards and spectrum matters. He actively contributes towards national preparatory views towards the ITU-R, APT, AWG and WRC., He actively contributed in the IMT-2020 process. At Ericsson, he is focused on future spectrum that are subject of the World Radio Conference and support for technical studies. He was awarded Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with specialization in Wireless Communication from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras., Prior to Ericsson, he worked with research organizations including Samsung R&D, Centre of Excellence of Wireless Technology and Telecom Centre of Excellence. He had contributed to standardization development in both 3GPP2 and 3GPP for HRPD, HSDPA, LTE. He also has a career stint as a mentor in a patent service organization dealing with patents for 4G standards and high-tech industries.

Arun Agarwal is an Indian Telecommunication Service Officer of 1990 Batch and has about 34 years of experience in various areas of telecom such as planning, installation, standardization, rural telecom, DBN/USOF Schemes, satellite communication, Sustainability & Circular Economy, etc. He is presently working as Principal Advisor (NSL), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in New Delhi, and immediately prior to that, he served as DDG (Satellite) in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) HQ.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics Engineering and an MBA. As a member of the DoT’s Committee on “Circular Economy in Telecom Sector”, he coordinated for formulating a Report on “Vision, Strategy & Action Plan for Circular Economy in the Indian Telecom Sector”.

Mr. Prabhat Dikshit has a rich telecom experience of more than 26 years. He has served in different setups of Government of India, covering varied domains like optical transmission, mobile networks, validation and certification of telecom equipment, satellite communication, etc. Presently he is heading the SATCOM Monitoring Center (SMC) which is primarily responsible for granting up-linking permissions and thereafter monitoring and resolving RF interference in the satellite carriers.

Mr. R.S.Singh is an Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer of 1996 batch, in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). With over 25 years of experience, he has worked across various telecom domains, including planning, installation, operation, and maintenance of switching and transmission systems. He has also been involved in policy matters related to Lawful Interception and Telecom Security.

During his six-year deputation with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), he gained extensive experience in policy formulation, planning, implementation, and monitoring of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) – PMAY(U), a flagship social welfare housing scheme of the Government of India.

He is presently working as Deputy Director General (IoT) in Telecommunication Engineering Centre, Department of Telecommunications.

He is the Chairman of National Working Group-20 (NWG-20), corresponding to ITU- T Study Group – 20 (SG-20) which is responsible for development of standards for the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins, and smart sustainable cities and communities (SSC&C).

He is also the Chairman of the Task Force constituted by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) for development and implementation of Intelligent Transport System in the Country.

Shri Mehul R Joshi is an Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer having a service span of 28 years serving as a Senior Government executive, directing and overseeing telecom policy, planning, finance, implementation, and operations across various roles at field level within the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) and BSNL.

Presently, Shri Mehul R Joshi is a Deputy Director General with Department of Telecommunications entrusted with responsibility of Security Assurance division.

His core responsibility is policy matters on security of telecom networks. He is ex officio Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of the department.

Other areas of his assignments includes telecom network supply chain issues, cybersecurity of telecom networks, planning and operationalising T-CSIRT and critical telecom infrastructure framework and capacity building in telecom networks security issues, etc.

Shri Joshi has been spearheading efforts of Department of Telecommunications for making telecom networks more secure, resilient and trustworthy that can handle present days threat landscape.

Shri. Gulab Chand holds Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree in Electronics & Communications from NIT, Durgapur, joined IRRS service, as a Group-A officer 1992-batch in the WPC wing of Department of Telecommunication. Presently, Shri Gulab Chand is working as a Joint Wireless Advisor in the WPC wing. He has more than 30 years of experience in spectrum management. Shri Gulab Chand has a fair understanding of the field of radio-spectrum management/regulations, as worked in the RF spectrum monitoring for 5 years. He participated in various ITU-R meetings held time to time on behalf of Indian Administration. He played a major role in various spectrum auctions in India since 2015.

Shri. Gulab Chand is a highly experienced officer in the telecommunications sector and well known for his expertise in policy formulation, regulatory, licensing and spectrum auction work.

Shri M.P.S. Alawa, a Joint Wireless Advisor at the RLO office in New Delhi, brings extensive experience in radio-frequency spectrum management. He previously played a crucial role in coordinating with stakeholders to formulate India's stance on spectrum issues for international bodies like ITU-R and APT. His significant contributions include drafting the National Frequency Allocation Plan-2018 and Indian contributions to WRC-19, where he also participated. Earlier in his career, at the Wireless Monitoring Organization, he was involved in monitoring radio-frequency spectrum, identifying sub-bands for new services, ensuring licensing compliance, and assisting wireless users and foreign administrations.

Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd) is currently the Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), an apex industry body created to be the collective voice of the Indian Space industry. He has been the first Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA).

General Bhatt has held apex leadership and management positions in the Indian Army at the Army Headquarters in the Indian Defense services for over 38 years. Among his many appointments, he has been Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the Chief of Army Staff twice, while serving in the capacity of Military Secretary, responsible for HR management in the Army as the Director General Military Operations wherein he was responsible for operational of the entire Indian Army. He was DGMO during the critical period of Doklam faceoff with Chinese in 2017. General Bhatt has held critical operational appointments of the Corps Commander of Prestigious Chinar Corps in Srinagar in 2018 and General Office Commanding Division in Assam. Both the assignments involved intimate interactions with multiple agencies including Central and State Govts, members of civil society and academia. His ability to synergize and implement challenging decisions, taking along all stake holders together has been his forte. General Bhatt has spearheaded several projects and has demonstrated great ability in building collaborative consensus while providing mentorship.

He has headed numerous studies aimed at developing implementable solutions to complex challenges and has unparalleled insight when it comes to the functioning of the Ministry of Defense, Department of Military Affairs, State Govt and Civil Administration. General Bhatt has an eye for astute quality, an unerring ability to ensure everyone under his charge complies to laws, rules and regulations and has built many a top-quality team of professionals that demonstrate this. Amongst his many military assignments is his command of a multinational unit in a UN mission in the Lebanon – Israel border and tenure as instructor in Commando Wing.

During a career spanning four decades, General Bhatt has been the recipient of several awards from the Government of India. The most recent include the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2021) and other prestigious recognitions such as Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (2019), Ati Vishist Seva Medal (2015), Sena Medal (2014), Vishist Seva Medal (2012), Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card (2008) for his dedicated service to the nation. General Bhatt is a graduate of Army Staff College in UK, he has a Masters in Management Studies from Osmania University and an M.Phill in Defense & Strategic Studies from the prestigious Madras University in Chennai. He has done his early Schooling from Hampton Court School and St George’s College in Mussoorie.

On 26th August 2023, The President of India has appointed him as the Chairperson of Board of Governors of IIIT Kota for a period of three years. As Director General of Indian Space Association (ISpA) he has been working relentlessly to create and energize the private space ecosystem in India and has been at the forefront as a single voice of the entire Space Sector.

Cindy Cook is Vice President & Global Head of Spectrum and Technology Regulations at Ericsson. She coordinates and drives Ericsson’s spectrum and technology regulatory efforts globally, across the Ericsson Group and towards regulatory bodies such as the ITU. She leads the development of Ericsson’s global spectrum strategies.

Prior to joining Ericsson, Cindy was the Director, International Spectrum & Standards with the Canadian Government where she led Canadian preparations towards multiple ITU-R Radiocommunication Assemblies & World Radiocommunication Conferences. Cindy has been actively participating in the work of the ITU-R for over 20 years where she has chaired progressively higher-level international meetings including the ITU-R Conference Preparatory Meeting for WRC-23, the first woman to do so. She is an advocate for gender equality, promoting the role of women in the spectrum and technology fields.

Cindy has over 35 years of experience in telecommunications systems engineering, regulation and policy development, having also worked at Telesat Canada, Bell Canada and Nortel. She graduated sum cum laude from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Advanced Science in Electrical Engineering.

Ms. Sonali Nanda has completed B.E (ECE) from MDU, Rohtak and MBA (Finance & Systems) from VIT, Vellore.

In Nov. 2007, she joined Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO and has worked in the Satellite Telecommunication Services Business vertical. As Senior Manager SATCOM, she gained 15 years of expertise in managing INSAT/GSAT and Foreign leased transponders provision agreements with Commercial users, Market assessment, Business development, costing/pricing of satellite transponders, ISRO's special satellite and ground network projects – GSAT 7 and GSAT 7A for Indian Navy and Airforce, Marine Vessels AIS data, Legal petitions at Hon'ble TDSAT etc.

Currently, she is on deputation to IN-SPACe as Deputy Director in Program Management and Authorisation Directorate.

Dr. Bulbul Mukherjee, is currently Deputy Director, Safe and Sustainable Operations Management Area, ISTRAC. She was earlier involved in spacecraft operations and management for nearly two decades, and is now primarily responsible for concerting Space Situational Awareness related activities as well as pursuing efforts to meet the long-term space sustainability goals.

She holds a Master's degree in Satellite Technology and Applications and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. She is currently a member Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), UN Working Group on Long Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities, and Expert Group on SSA.

Manish Kumar Garg is an Indian Telecom Service Officer of 1993 Batch with a rich experience of 31 years in Telecom and IT domains like Large scale operation & Project Execution Telecom Infra, Enterprise Tech Implementation, Cyber Security, Inter-Agency Data Integration and establishing secured Data Pipelines. He is presently heading Satellite Monitoring Centre (SMC) of Deptt. of Telecom, prior to which he was on Central Deputation to NATGRID under Ministry of Home Affairs.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering and an MBA.

He is presently working as Joint Wireless Advisor in the Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. He has 25 years of experience in spectrum management and has worked in almost every domain of Spectrum Management including wireless monitoring. He is a Graduate Engineer in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering and also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Policy Management. He has relentlessly worked to bring Government closer to the people. Mr. Pattanaik was instrumental in leading a team to develop the necessary spectrum planning and Pan-India frequency deployment plan for private FM Broadcast expansion in 2015. Currently, Mr. Pattanaik is the Co-Chair of APG-23 Study Group 4 on Satellite Related issues, and vice chair of ITU Study Group 3.

Shri Sanjay Agrawal, Director DCPW, is a gold medalist in Computer Science from IIT Delhi. With an extensive career spanning multiple ministries and locations such as UP, Assam, Rajasthan, MP, and Delhi, he has held diverse roles in General Administration, General Management, Policy Formulation, Planning, Communication Technology, Finance Management, Projects Management, and Disaster Management.

He has spearheaded numerous projects of Pan-India scale and is known for his leading role in bringing Digital Transformation in Disaster Management. He was instrumental in the successful implementation of a nationwide Early Warning Dissemination System developed over the Common Alert Protocol (CAP), and the pan-India implementation of Cell Broadcasting-based Alerts in a record time of less than six months.

During more than three decades of his career, he has led various projects. To name a few:

• Implemented NFS Project for Indian Defense Establishments across the Northeast region with a budget of more than Rs. 1500 Crores.
• Spearheaded the Digital India initiative in the state of Rajasthan, delivering high-speed broadband and IT-enabled services to 6236 Gram Panchayats. Successfully executed a project worth INR 672 Crores, positioning Rajasthan as the second-ranked state in India for project execution.
• Brought digital transformation in Project Management of NHAI through the implementation of Road Information System (RIS), a planning tool utilizing GPS-mapped technical details of the Pan India Road Network. Led the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning and Business Process Re-engineering.
• Served as the Project Coordinator for World Bank Assisted Projects and collaborated with international organizations such as WB, WMO, ITU, UNDRR, ADB, JICA, and ISO.

Recognized for his outstanding contributions in the field of Telecom, Shri Agrawal has received prestigious awards including the Rashtriya Sanchar Seva Padak and the Vishishta Sanchar Seva Padak.

At the international level, he represents India as an Expert Member in the International Standard Organization, contributing to the development of Global Intelligent Transport System Standards. Additionally, he holds membership in the Expert Advisory Group on Road Information System of CRRI, New Delhi.

Shri Sanjay Agrawal has authored numerous national and international publications.

Ms. Alka Selot Asthana is Global Head – Regulatory at Tata Communications Limited, with over 30 years of leadership experience across domestic and international telecommunications ecosystems. A former officer of the Indian Telecom Services and former CTO of Indus Towers, she has played a pivotal role in shaping large‐scale telecom infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. She is also a Director at Solutions Infini Technologies (India) Pvt. Ltd., which provides Audiotex communications services in India. In her current role, she actively engages in global and regional policy dialogues on AI adoption, digital infrastructure, subsea cable systems, cross‐border connectivity, cloud, IoT, M2M and other digital infrastructure representing Tata Communications at various platforms and Industry forums.

Dr. (Hon.) Govind Pathak is an internationally recognized author, technology strategist, systems thinker, and keynote speaker with over 25 years of global experience in telecommunications, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. His work focuses on the convergence of communications, computing, intelligence, and governance, helping organizations and policymakers understand how technological shifts reshape industries, economies, and society.

An International Book Awards 2026 Finalist (Science) and global best-selling author, Dr. Pathak has authored several influential books, including 6G Threshold: From Connectivity to Decision-Driven Networks, Enterprise AI Control, and Entangled Realities. His research and writing explore the evolution of 6G, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), AI-native infrastructure, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, digital trust, and the future of intelligent civilizations.

A passionate advocate of systems thinking, Dr. Pathak is known for developing interdisciplinary frameworks that connect technology with policy, business strategy, and national competitiveness. He regularly contributes to industry forums and international conferences, advancing dialogue on resilient digital infrastructure, satellite–terrestrial convergence, and the next generation of intelligent, secure, and sustainable communication ecosystems.

Vikram is a Senior Advisor to the COAI. This is India’s leading industry association for Telecom, Broadband and Digital services. He interacts extensively with the ICT industry leadership and senior officials at DoT, MeitY, TRAI and other government offices for regulatory and policy matters. He was a member of the Board of GCF. An active member of national industry coalitions - CII, FICCI, Assocham, TSDSI, NASSCOM, IAMAI. He participates in many International Workshops / conferences conducted by ITU, APT etc.

He has worked with:

TATA Teleservices Limited from 2008-2010.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as their CIO from 2005 – 2008,
Indian Army (Signals). Took voluntary retirement in the rank of Colonel in 2005.

Shri Amit Sharma, Founder and Managing Director of Amitec Electronics Ltd., is a dynamic inventor and investor with over 25 years of experience in the defense, aerospace, and intelligence sectors. Since establishing Amitec in 2005, he has championed the "Make in India" initiative by exporting indigenized RF, microwave, and deep-tech defense systems to over 30 countries. His technical expertise spans Space Situational Awareness, Electronic Warfare (EW), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and AI-driven satellite analytics. His technological foresight has led to vital strategic collaborations, including partnerships with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) on high-altitude logistics drones and joint missions with international entities like Druk Holding & Investments for maritime security. Furthermore, his professional footprint spans global organizations, marked by years of engagement with industry leaders such as Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, HawkEye 360, and LeoLabs.

Mr. Sharma is a graduate of the Delhi College of Engineering, now known as Delhi Technological University.

Aniruddh Rao Kabbinale is the Founder and CEO of Maargin Research and Innovation Pvt. Ltd., a Bengaluru-based space technology startup building a standards-compliant, multi-shell, multi-orbit LEO space communication network with an integrated orbital micro data center grid.

A communications engineer turned entrepreneur, Aniruddh brings more than a decade of experience in research and development of wireless systems and global standardization. He was previously a Staff Engineer at Samsung, where he contributed to IEEE Ultra-Wideband and Wi-Fi standards, and has held research positions at the University of Cambridge and TCS Research, alongside engineering roles at Qualcomm, Siemens, and Huawei. This career across chipsets, networks, and research laboratories shaped the design philosophy he now applies at Maargin: build to global standards, engineer frugally, and architect for interoperability from day one.

Aniruddh holds an M.Tech from IIT Bombay and is a Senior Member of the IEEE. At Maargin, he leads the design of the company's space network architecture and its standards strategy, including alignment with 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) specifications, so that the constellation can interoperate with terrestrial and satellite networks worldwide.

Having navigated India's space reforms first-hand — from NGE registration and IN-SPACe authorization channels to ecosystem partnerships and early-stage fundraising — Aniruddh speaks regularly on capital-efficient engineering, standards and policy making participation by startups, and the practical mechanics of scaling a deep-tech space venture in India's rapidly growing private space economy.

Bharat Bhatia is a global telecom leader with over five decades of experience in spectrum management, ICT policy, and regulation. He currently serves as President & CEO of IAFI, Vice Chairman of the Wireless World Research Forum (WWRF), and chairs key international groups at the ITU and APT, shaping global standards for 5G, 6G, satellites and Wi-Fi.

Previously, he led the international spectrum team at Motorola Solutions USA and played a pivotal role in opening India’s telecom sector, including the launch of the first GSM services and the development of India’s National Frequency Allocation Plan.

Internationally, he introduced the concept of Public Protection & Disaster Relief (PPDR) at the ITU and was instrumental in the adoption of ITU Resolution 646 on PPDR.

Mr. Bhatia is a Fellow of IETE, holds a BE from the University of Delhi, and has completed leadership programs at National University of Singapore and George Washington University, USA.

A sought-after speaker, he continues to guide global discussions on spectrum policy and next-generation technologies.

Dr. P.K. Jain is presently on deputation from ISRO to IN-SPACe HQ, Ahmedabad and has been working as founding Director, Program Management & Authorization, since its inception in 2022. He is responsible for regulating and supervising the space activities undertaken by the government and non-government entities in India. He also plays an enabler role to the non-government entities, and oversees processing of their requests for seeking ISRO’s test facilities, launch support and technology transfers, apart from enabling student satellites by academia.

He started his career with ISRO in 1989 and has worked for development and establishment of remote sensing and Satcom earth stations, implementation of Satcom Application- Programmes, INSAT transponders capacity management and space spectrum management.

Shri Vinay Paliwal is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology-Madras and was serving at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, ISRO prior to assuming his current role at IN-SPACe. As Deputy Director, Spectrum management, Monitoring, and Supervision (SMS) in the Program Management & Authorization (PMA) Directorate of IN-SPACe, he is responsible for audit & monitoring of authorizations issued by IN-SPACe, processing of advisory notes enabling ITU Filings, and facilitation for release of Launch Manifesto. He is also engaged in processing of authorization for Space Transportation Systems (STS) and facilitating ISRO support requirements in the STS domain including accommodation of payload on ISRO’s space based platforms such as POEM and SMiLE.

As Partner and Managing Director, Dan is responsible for the overall strategic and operational management of Forum Europe.

His role includes a large focus on content and programme development, as well as on developing and strengthening relations with policymakers and industry stakeholders both within Europe and globally.

After graduating with a degree in linguistics, Dan worked in IT and procurement strategy before moving to the events sector in 2004. He co-founded Epsilon Events in 2005, and then took up his current role following a merger between Epsilon and Forum Europe in 2009.

Dan leads in the majority of the company’s work outside Europe with Forum Global, including the Global Spectrum Series - a portfolio of seven events across five continents which is regarded as the world’s leading meetings series for the spectrum community.

Once he’s ensured the success of these events, there’s not much time for anything else. But when he does get a minute, you’ll probably find him cycling around the country lanes near his home.

Prof. N K Goyal, President of CMAI association of India and former GM of HP Electronics Dev Corpn. & President of HFCL, is a highly engaged leader in the ICT, Mobile, Telecom, Education, Alternate Energy, Multimedia, and Infrastructure sectors. He actively participates in policy formulation as a representative on over 180 government committees and is known for facilitating international collaborations through delegations. His signature events include the NTA ICT World Communication Awards and National Education Awards, often graced by international dignitaries, as well as ICOMM, a prominent mobile technology exhibition held annually in India and China. Prof. Goyal has also been instrumental in the introduction of key technologies like CDMA, Cordect, and 3G/4G.

An engineering graduate from Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh with diploma in Business Management and Export Marketing. Have an experience over 45 years in the telecom sector including experience in defence, looking after communications.

Prestigious Positions Held

• Director: Shyam Telecom Ltd.
• Director: Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Corporate Affairs & Regulatory)
• Deputy Director General: COAI
• Executive Director: Avaya Mobile Broad Band Wireless Pvt. Ltd.
• Director General: Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA now known as DIPA).
  Since Jan 2012 to 30 September 2024
• Responsible for providing the infrastructure to all the cellular mobile operators.
• Member Advisory Board of TowerXchange.

Member of various professional institutions/associations to promote the interest of telecom sector like FICCI, CII, ASOCHAM, IHD Chamber, Society of India (CSI), Indian Science Congress (ISC).

Also work very closely with ITU (UN Body), APT and WWRF with regards to spectrum/radio related matters including TRAI and Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy.

Specialization

• Satellite Communication Advance Course at Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad.
• EMI/EMC Course, IAT Pune.
• Tower & Spectrum Communication.
• Has many firsts to his credit like technology transfer, adoption of digitalization, telecom licensing, development of telecom infrastructure including the concept of infrastructure sharing.
• Expert in Brand Building and its adoption.

Prestigious Awards

During the long span of over forty-five years, received many prestigious awards for contribution towards the sunrise telecom sector.

• In 2010 was awarded the "Evangelist Mobile Infrastructure Award" by Hon'ble Minister of Telecommunications.
• In February 2020 was awarded the "Amity National Leadership Award" for Industry Commitment Towards Green Technology.
• Man of Excellence Award (2022).
• Voice & Data Excellence Award (2022).

Jose ‘Pepe’ Feu Vidal is a Satellite Network Coordination Engineer working on Amazon Leo. He has been active in speaking on regulatory challenges facing Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) technologies at significant industry forums, emphasizing the role of satellite technology in bridging the digital divide, especially for remote and isolated geographies.

He engages with policymakers and industry stakeholders on key trends and regulatory considerations in deploying next-generation ICT solutions. Pepe holds a professional background in telecommunications and connectivity, and he contributes to advancing satellite network coordination as part of Amazon’s ambitious Project Kuiper, which aims to enhance global connectivity through satellite internet services.

His educational background includes studies at the American University Washington College of Law, and he is based in London Manual

Punit Rathod (Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India. He has more than 15 years of wireless research and development experience. He has a diverse experience of working as an academic researcher and a co-founder of a startup with deployed equipment in public-safety agencies in India and multinational companies. He has contributed to national and international standardization efforts at 3GPP, IEEE, and ITUR. His recent work has been focused on spectrum and standardization as a Lead-Technical Standards with Qualcomm Standards and Industry Organization.

Shri Arun Kumar is a 2011-batch officer of the Indian Radio Regulatory Service (IRRS) and currently serves as Deputy Wireless Adviser in the International Spectrum Regulations Group of the Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) Wing. With around 14 years of experience, he has contributed significantly to spectrum management, spectrum monitoring, satellite frequency coordination, and activities related to ITU-Radiocommunication Sector.

He is Chairman of the Drafting Group 7C of the APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-27. In addition, he serves as the Coordinator of the National Working Party 4A-2, which is responsible for national studies on WRC-27 Agenda items 1.5, 1.6, & 7, along with other related radiocommunication matters.

During the 2019–2023 study cycle, he was the Rapporteur of National Study Group-4, which was responsible for satellite services. He has played a pivotal role in formulating and finalizing India’s contributions for the WRC-23 agenda items.

I belong to 1998 Batch of Indian Telecom Service (ITS). In addition to having worked in core domain of Telecom in BSNL & DoT Hqrs, I had a long stint with one of the Central LEA where I worked in various capacities and verticals including both Technical and General Duty. Presently, I am posted as Deputy Director General in DoT HQ at New Delhi heading Security (Policy, Planning and Intelligence) division handling planning of security related guidelines and regulations for Telecom/Internet service providers from LEAs point of view. I also act as an Interface between LEAs and Telecom Service Providers for provision of telecom data and lawful interception. My area of interests include national security including telecom, China, Pakistan and data analytics for crime investigation.

Marta is an accomplished Spectrum Expert at Eutelsat Group, with a specialized focus on NGSO spectrum policy, licensing, and coordination. She has demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing the company's global footprint, particularly through her efforts in cultivating relationships within the Americas, Africa and recently APAC Regions, advancing Eutelsat Group's worldwide outreach for WRC and spectrum regulation

Marta has an academic background in Telecommunications and Space engineering from Polytechnic University of Madrid. Her native language is Spanish, and she also speaks English fluently.

Udrivolf is a Space engineer / rocket scientist by degree and citizen of the world, Udri spent his early career in Earth observation and remote sensing, doing research in systems engineering and eventually supporting the European Commission on their Earth observation programme Copernicus. He then moved into the world of spectrum and regulatory affairs, developing skills and expertise on non-GSO systems. He eventually landed at SpaceX where he is responsible for managing International Telecommunication Union (ITU) affairs. Udri’s mission is to support updating ITU rules to maximise efficient use of spectrum resources, so that Starlink (as well as all other NGSO systems) can connect the largest possible number of users around the world with the best possible service.

Mr. R.S.Singh is an Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer of 1996 batch, in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). With over 25 years of experience, he has worked across various telecom domains, including planning, installation, operation, and maintenance of switching and transmission systems. He has also been involved in policy matters related to Lawful Interception and Telecom Security.

During his six-year deputation with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), he gained extensive experience in policy formulation, planning, implementation, and monitoring of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) – PMAY(U), a flagship social welfare housing scheme of the Government of India.

He is presently working as Deputy Director General (IoT) in Telecommunication Engineering Centre, Department of Telecommunications.

He is the Chairman of National Working Group-20 (NWG-20), corresponding to ITU- T Study Group – 20 (SG-20) which is responsible for development of standards for the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins, and smart sustainable cities and communities (SSC&C).

He is also the Chairman of the Task Force constituted by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) for development and implementation of Intelligent Transport System in the Country.

Faheem has been a key member of the Amazon Leo team since 2024, where he serves as the primary lead for Licensing and Regulatory Affairs across South Asian Countries. With over 17 years of extensive experience in the telecommunications, network, and space sector, Faheem brings a wealth of expertise developed through his tenure at industry leaders including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Indus Towers.

Throughout his career, Faheem has successfully transitioned into a specialized techno-regulatory role, positioning himself as a bridge between technical requirements and regulatory frameworks. In this capacity, he has become an active and influential voice in shaping policy and regulatory frameworks across South Asian markets. His deep engagement with regional regulators has established him as a trusted advisor on complex licensing and authorization matters, enabling Amazon Leo to navigate the intricate regulatory landscape with confidence and strategic foresight.

Bharat Bhatia is a global telecom leader with over five decades of experience in spectrum management, ICT policy, and regulation. He currently serves as President & CEO of IAFI, Vice Chairman of the Wireless World Research Forum (WWRF), and chairs key international groups at the ITU and APT, shaping global standards for 5G, 6G, satellites and Wi-Fi.

Previously, he led the international spectrum team at Motorola Solutions USA and played a pivotal role in opening India’s telecom sector, including the launch of the first GSM services and the development of India’s National Frequency Allocation Plan.

Internationally, he introduced the concept of Public Protection & Disaster Relief (PPDR) at the ITU and was instrumental in the adoption of ITU Resolution 646 on PPDR.

Mr. Bhatia is a Fellow of IETE, holds a BE from the University of Delhi, and has completed leadership programs at National University of Singapore and George Washington University, USA.

A sought-after speaker, he continues to guide global discussions on spectrum policy and next-generation technologies.

Keyur Gandhi heads Space Regulation, Legal and Policy at Dhruva Space, a full-stack Space engineering solutions provider in Hyderabad, India.

A law graduate from NMIMS Mumbai, he works closely in the Indian private Space-Technology ecosystem, engaging in Legal, Regulatory and Policy matters across diverse domains including Satellite Communication, Spectrum Management, Remote Sensing, Trade Controls, Public Procurements, and other allied areas.

He has worked on several “firsts” in Space Regulatory activities, beginning with his involvement in one of the first-ever authorisations from IN-SPACe; regulatory and legal aspects governing the launch of India’s first commercial Satellite-as-a-Service (Hosted Payload) Mission and Ground Station-as-a-Service (GSaaS) offering. Keyur also leads ITU filings and spectrum coordination in India and across the globe for Dhruva Space.

In recognition of his potential and achievements, Keyur was awarded the BW Legal 30 Under 30 Award in December 2023.

Pankaj is a Partner Regulatory Consulting in EY. He is a non-market strategist with expertise in managing challenging business environment and reputation management. His key domain areas are Regulatory, Public policy and Privacy in digital world.

In previous roles Pankaj has worked as Country Manager and as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer for Telenor India.

He has more than 30 years of experience in Telecom and Satellite industry in India and other international markets and has led in many leadership roles in diversified functions such as Sales, Business Development, Project Management, Strategy and Corporate Affairs. He is a frequent speaker at Industry events and blogs regularly at topics pertaining to telecom industry and leadership issues in the organizations. Some of his key strengths are-

• Expertise in Corporate Affairs, Govt public policy matters, strategy and business development
• Expertise in conceptualizing of PMO framework in line with today’s complex business needs, setting-up and running of PMO operations.
• A non-market strategic expert with deep knowledge of managing challenging business environment, Steering through rough waters by resolving complex issues with patience, perseverance and persistence.
• Energetic leader with self-drive and motivation, and strong belief in empowerment, mentoring and team work.

Pankaj is an Electrical Engineer with MBA from Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. He loves to read non-fiction and is a keen golfer in his spare time.

Yogesh Sharma is a Partner at KPMG India specializing in digital infrastructure, emerging technologies, AI, and business transformation. His experience spans telecommunications, satellite-enabled connectivity ecosystems, cloud, and digital infrastructure advisory. He brings a strategic perspective on governance, innovation, and sustainability in the rapidly evolving SpaceTech ecosystem.

Had been a senior ITS officer with DoT/BSNL/MTNL and also with private sector after retirement, with deep and broad experience of 53 years in Telecom/Networking field encompassing all functions.

• Expert in regulatory and techno-commercial functions in Telecom field through Liaison & representation with DoT, TEC, TRAI, TERM, USOF-HQ, WPC, BSNL and MTNL etc. at Delhi/HQ & at all India level to transform and catalyze the Telecom services.
• Successfully synergized Network Roll out with respect to Leased lines, TERM Testing, Passive/active Infrastructure sharing and also CMRTS Licensing & importing issues etc., particularly in the area of Mobile/Broadband and CMRTS Communications.
• Co-ordination with DoT, TEC, TRAI, BSNL and MTNL etc.: 17 years’ experience at Country Level as Consultant and dealing & resolving the Regulatory & Techno-commercial issues relating to POI, IUC and Lease Lines in case of Fixed, Mobile, Broad-band, NLD ILD and CMRTS systems.
• Technical experience at DoT: More than 15 years of Senior Management/ Technical work involving meetings in TEC DCC/TCC core working group, Drawing Technical test schedules, specifications, coordination of testing and acceptance of equipments at all India level.
• Field experience in DoT: 17 years of work of Senior/middle Management in Development, planning and installation of various telecom systems/equipment in Maharashtra, MP and in North Eastern States (including Meghalaya, Arunachal, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura).
• Academic Experience: 4 years role as Faculty in National Advanced Telecommunications Training centre.
• Had been the part of core group in TEC, for drawing the specifications of GSM system in country.
• Successfully Executed and commissioned of Underground Transmission links in record time in MP/Maharashtra thus saved time and money

Industry Leadership Roles:

• Vice-President, ITU-APT Foundation of India and Member, Broad band India Forum.
• Fellow of Institution of Engineers & Fellow of Institution of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineers
• Life member of Indian Institute Public Administration & Life Member Civil Services Officers Institute.

Academic credentials:

• BE (Hons.) in Electrical Engineering from Government Engineering College/RDV Jabalpur
• Advanced Course on OFC from Arizona State University USA;
• Many Advanced Courses from ALTTC/TTC.
• Course on ‘Universal services policies and practices’ organized by ITU academy
• Participated in ITU Workshop on NGN Regulation and Migration Strategies

International and National Telecom Events:

• Participated, chaired and presented papers on various International and National Telecom Events.

Personal attributes:

• Positive attitude, Practice yoga, Good health, Love music/dance, Interpersonal association skills, Children well settled, Living in Delhi/NCR

Vibhor Jain, Co-founder & CBO, VyomIC, is an alumnus of IIT Madras. During his time at IITM, he led the prestigious 72-member team Avishkar Hyperloop and developed the world’s longest hyperloop testing facility and ecosystem in India with INR 10Cr+ funding from Indian Railways. Post that, he co-founded AeroDome Technologies to develop drone swarms for various use cases, while successfully operating the fleet of 55 drones, he and his team realised a critical gap in the existing GNSS architecture and pivoted the business with the determination to solve it from its roots. As a result of it, VyomIC - the space initiative of AeroDome Technologies - is now building India’s First and Largest Private Global Satellite Constellation, to provide highly precise and secure navigation and timing signals worldwide for various applications, including defence, drones, autonomous vehicles, precision agriculture, construction, maritime, and many more.

Rakesh Kapur is a telecom and satellite communications expert with over 37 years of experience in DoT and BSNL. An alumnus of PEC Chandigarh and IIT Delhi, he retired from BSNL as Executive Director (Core Network) and also served as CGM of Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh Telecom Circles.

He has extensive expertise in transmission and satellite-based networks and worked as a Consultant with SES (2015–2019) for deployment of MEO constellation backhaul solutions by BSNL. He also served as Chief Engineer (Systems) at PCL and Director-in-Charge of the Electronics R&D Society under the Department of Electronics (now MeitY).

Currently, he is associated with NGSO Satcom Infrastructure & Services and is a Member of IAFI.

He is presently the Chairman of Cyber Security Association of India.

Lt. General (Dr.) Rajesh Pant is an internationally recognized cybersecurity mentor who most recently served as the National Cyber Security Coordinator at the National Security Council Secretariat of India under the Prime Minister’s Office. In this capacity he was responsible for coordinating all activities across multiple sectors to ensure a secure and resilient cyberspace within the nation. Under his stewardship the nation has risen from 47th to 10th position in the Global Cybersecurity Index of the United Nations.

He holds a PhD degree for his research in the field of Information Security metrics. He is also MTech from IIT Kharagpur, MPhil from Madras University and Master of Management Studies from Osmania University, Hyderabad.

He was the head of the Army’s Cyber Training establishment for three years and served in the Army Signals Corps for 41 years wherein he was awarded three times by the President of India for distinguished service of the highest order. As a Fellow of IETE he was awarded the Baliga Memorial Award in 2013. In Dec 2023, IIT Kharagpur has conferred on him the Distinguished Alumni Award. He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by FSAI in Feb 2024.

He has represented the nation at World Economic Forums Annual Meeting on Cybersecurity, Global Cybersecurity Forum at Riyadh, Bilateral Dialogues with USA and Russia, QUAD Dialogues, Prague 5G Security Conclave, Israel and Singapore Cyber Weeks and led Resilience vertical of Global Counter Ransomware initiative.

Prof. N K Goyal, President of CMAI association of India and former GM of HP Electronics Dev Corpn. & President of HFCL, is a highly engaged leader in the ICT, Mobile, Telecom, Education, Alternate Energy, Multimedia, and Infrastructure sectors. He actively participates in policy formulation as a representative on over 180 government committees and is known for facilitating international collaborations through delegations. His signature events include the NTA ICT World Communication Awards and National Education Awards, often graced by international dignitaries, as well as ICOMM, a prominent mobile technology exhibition held annually in India and China. Prof. Goyal has also been instrumental in the introduction of key technologies like CDMA, Cordect, and 3G/4G.

Shri N. K. Bhola, brings over 30 years of proven expertise in spectrum management and monitoring within the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing and the Wireless Monitoring Organization (WMO).

Currently as Wireless Advisor, WPC, Department of Telecommunications, he heads the WPC Wing's field unit. In this role, he oversees spectrum monitoring across India via a comprehensive network: one International Satellite Monitoring Earth Station (ISMES), five International Monitoring Stations (IMSs), and 22 Wireless Monitoring Stations (WMSs). Shri Bhola has also been instrumental in formulating technical specifications for monitoring systems up to 80 GHz, ensuring full-range frequency band monitoring, including 5G E and V bands.

Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar is a graduate of Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India. He ranked 27th out of 60,000 students who took the EAMCET medical school entrance examination, one of the most competitive examinations in the country. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania, and obtained the highest percentile scores in most board examinations. During his postgraduate training, he represented the state of Pennsylvania in a national medical knowledge competition for 2 years. He then worked at Johns Hopkins University – Sinai Hospital for about 5 years as an attending physician, teaching residents and medical students.

He is also the founder of UWord, an online learning platform for high stakes competitive exams in the US. In 2020, he won the Ernst and Young Award of “Entrepreneur of the Year” in the US. Also, he is a member of Forbes Business Council.

Dr. Pemmasani has worked in a free medical clinic providing care to uninsured/underinsured patients in the Indian community of Dallas. In India, he helped provide free and clean water to residents of the Palnadu in the Guntur district, for over 10 years, and donated land for a community hall in his father’s village. He has also provided educational funding to a number of children and adults besides giving charitable donations to local community organizations. In addition, through the CSR and foundation activities, he continues the philanthropic activities focusing on education, global crisis, and service basic needs.

Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar joined Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in year 2013 to serve the common people. He has been elected as Member of Parliament from Guntur Lok Sabha constituency in 2024. For more details, pl visit website www.drpemmasani.com

Jitendra Singh is working with Qualcomm since 2009. His responsibilities include interfacing with regulatory and policy making agencies in the region on behalf of Qualcomm. Jitendra has more than 30 years of experience in the field of communications management. Prior to his appointment at Qualcomm he served in the government. He has been actively involved in National Working Groups of the ITU-R in India and has been a key contributor in all the Standards related activities of the industry. This includes the advocacy and planning of identification of additional spectrum for IMT and mobile broadband at various forums – National as well as Global. He had been an active contributor by introducing a number of papers in ITUR on behalf of India. He plays a key role in APT region telecom industry coordination activities. He is part of many industry associations. He has created and submitted many spectrum policy related papers in ITU and APT on behalf of India. He also heads GSA India team.

Michael Howells is the Global Head of Strategic Relationships & Market Development at Viasat. His role sits at the intersection of technology, innovation, and business, leading digital growth and AI‑driven transformation across key markets. He is responsible for forging high‑impact strategic relationships that extend satellite connectivity and advanced digital services to governments, enterprises, and communities worldwide, helping partners unlock new opportunities through secure, resilient, and intelligent connectivity solutions.

Chris Hofer joined Amazon Leo in 2020 as Head, international spectrum management and strategy, with responsibility for spectrum policy and satellite coordination. An engineer by training, Chris leads Amazon Leo’s work at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in preparation for the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) and operator-to-operator satellite radio frequency coordination. He also leads Amazon Leo’s collaboration with astronomers and currently serves as the co-chair of the Industry and Technology Hub at the International Astronomical Union’s Centre for the Protection of the Dark & Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference. In 2021, Chris co-chaired the industry subgroups for the SATCON2 and Dark and Quiet Skies 2 astronomy conferences.

Before Amazon, Chris served as director of regulatory affairs for Viasat, representing Viasat’s satellite interests in the ITU’s Working Party 4A preparations for the WRC. He also served as the elected international chairman of ITU-R Study Group 4 for two terms, from 2012-2019.

Previously, Chris was the lead representative for WRC activities for the Chief Information Office of the Office of Secretary of Defense. Earlier he worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA), acting as the chairman of the Space Systems Subcommittee under the U.S. interagency spectrum group, Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC).

He holds a master’s degree in telecommunications from the University of Colorado in Boulder and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from New Mexico State University.

J Sofi, a scientist in ISRO is currently working as Associate Director for Frequency Management area in, SATCOM Programme Office at ISRO HQ, Bengaluru. She is responsible for frequency management activities which involves ITU filings and frequency coordination for all ISRO missions, Communication satellites, remote sensing satellites ,space science and inter planetary missions and is involved in satellite planning activities. She has contributed towards preparation of inputs to Working Party and WRC’s towards augmentation of orbit-spectrum resources for ISRO missions. Her contribution has been significant in obtaining the extension of validity period of satellite networks during previous WRC, WRC-19.

As an experienced and mature business leader with a sales-oriented mindset, I possess exceptional executive presence, emotional intelligence, and a strong track record of successfully managing P&L and governance. With over two decades experience in leadership role across global mobile broadband satellite operators, mobile network operators, and telecom OEMs in Asia, I have catered to diverse segments such as defence, aviation, maritime, consumers and enterprise. My expertise extends across various functions, including sales and marketing, product development, account management, business development, and corporate and public relations. I am passionate about driving business growth and achieving success through collaborative leadership and innovative strategies

I am an independent, dynamic, high-energy personality with a "can do" attitude, a willingness to roll-up sleeves to solve problems and the ability to work with a lean team. I have a successful track record of making astute policy recommendations, seeking regulatory approvals, selecting and developing channel partners, and driving solution sales and long-term customer relationships with the Government / Private telecom operators and partner companies in the region. Exhibited strong business skills and can probe the customer's/channel partners stated and implied needs and wants. Strong knowledge of commercial satellite communication and terrestrial telecommunication. Managed projects worth a USD 2000+ million business and a strong penchant for customer centricity. A 'customer first' approach and a demonstrated track record of building strong customer relationships with marquee clients. Culturally dexterous, worked within global companies, and lived and worked in a multi-cultural environment. Demonstrated strong Leadership Skills, Results & strategic orientation in my assignments. Ability to articulate the organization's value proposition and relate to strategic issues facing customers and the industry in general. Integrity and Business ethics are a core part of my personality. I have a flexible attitude to balance across and satisfy different stakeholders and have strong interpersonal, influencing and relationship skills. Hands-on experience in driving the company's policies by maintaining balanced and transparent relations with various Ministries and Government departments, including the Telecom & I.T. Ministry, Department of Telecom, NSIL, In-Space, Department of Space, Commerce Ministry, Home Ministry, PMO, DIT-UK and various government bodies in Centre and States.

Shivaji Chatterjee is CEO, President and Managing Director - Hughes Communications India Private Limited.

He is a Gold medalist in Computer engineering from Pune University. Subsequently, he did his post graduation in Marketing from NMIMS in Mumbai.

In a career spanning a total of over 27 years, he has been with Hughes for the past 25 years during which he has won several Business and Sales & Marketing accolades. He has been felicitated as the International Marketing Person of the Year at Hughes USA multiple times and was also awarded “Hughes CEO's Honor Award” – a very special Hughes global recognition.

In the leadership role, he has spearheaded many achievements for Hughes and for the Satellite industry in India. His areas of expertise include satellite communications, broadband networking, managed services and business solutions – across diverse industry segments with many firsts.

With almost 20 years of leadership experience in maritime safety, security and environmental protection, Mr. Parenté was the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Vanuatu to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Oil Pollution Fund (IOPC) since 2005 and IMSO since 2008. He was Chair of the IMO Technical Cooperation Committee and successfully led Vanuatu’s first candidature to the IMO Council elections for the biennium 2022-2023.

Shri Hanumantha Rayappa, a senior scientist in ISRO. He currently is working as Director, SATCOM Programme Office at ISRO HQ, Bengaluru. He is dealing with frequency management, satcom applications, ground segment, capacity management and satcom planning. His contribution is significant in the planning & realization of Gateways for High Throughput Satellites. He has been a key player in rollout and operations of SatCom networks for societal applications, like Telemedicine, Tele-education, VAST connectivity, Disaster Management, Search & Rescue, etc, which have a greater social relevance. He has contributed for proliferation of NavIC and GAGAN solutions into various applications. He has played an important role in formulating the new policy and guidelines in the Satcom area.

He is a recipient of two Team Excellence Awards of ISRO and IETE – R S Khandpur Gold Medal for tele- education & tele-medicine applications.

Shri Mukesh Kumar is currently contributing as Deputy Director General (Radio) in Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), which is a technical arm of Department of Telecommunications, Government of India. He is an officer of Indian Telecommunication Service with more than 29 years of comprehensive experience in the diverse activities of telecom sector.

His career has spanned the critical areas of Policy, Planning, Development, Maintenance and Migration to new technologies including working experience in standardization, spectrum management, regulatory policy, and international negotiations.

The current assignments of Sh Kumar include the responsibility of setting standards for Radio Equipment and Networks including those related with Satellite Communications.

Shri Vivek Banzal ITS (1987) presently Director (Consumer Fixed Access), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), has been selected to the post of post of Chairman & Managing Director- ITI Limited recommended by Public Enterprises Selection Board ( PESB).

Shri Banzal is Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics, Master of Engineering in Computer Science and MBA. He has more than 34 years’ experience of handling Computer and Telecom Network. He started his career as customer service and solution engineer in computer industry in 1986. After joining Department of Telecom , he executed first digital satellite ground station project for telecom in India.

His quest for innovation and process re-engineering was tested when competition begun in Telecom Sector in India at Indore in fixed line segment in 1997. He is known for successful implementation of innovative ideas, during his stint in fixed line segment, with start of wire-line broadband in India. Subsequently he worked in customer mobility for 13 years with same flavour in planning, engineering, rollout, network upgrade, O&M, marketing and retail chain management. He had planned and implemented, number of innovations in various customer centric activities in Mobile Network in Gujarat. Many of them were replicated in other states later on.

As Director (CFA), BSNL, he is responsible for formulating and implementing policies for Fixed Line and Broadband network in BSNL. He has made the ambitious BHARAT FIBRE [FTTH] brand , with end to end IT enabled process and partnership management into a popular PAN India success. Bharat Air Fibre for remote and rural areas is another product , which is gaining strength every passing day . Customer service and interaction on paperless digital platform is one area , where he transformed BSNL fixed line segment . Under his portfolio , Smart City implementation and New innovative Business products and solutions are two key areas , where BSNL is serving the nation. Better QoS and prompt customer services are his key priority areas.

Shri Tarun Chitkara serves as Vice-President regulatory affairs having more than 20 years of invaluable experience in Airtel regulatory function, He has successfully handled various issues/assignments ranging from operational to most strategic and sensitive issues. He is having a deep understanding of the Indian regulatory environment and developments since privatization of the telecom sector. Among his myriad responsibilities, his job requires extensive interaction with various government bodies and industry associations to pursue company’s interests.

His expertise lies in Telecom, Broadcasting regulations, and Corporate Affairs, making him an indispensable asset to the company.

Dr. Ravi Gandhi expert in Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs with a demonstrated career history in the telecommunications industry. Skilled in Business Management, Strategic Planning, Crossfunctional Team Leadership and Management

Prafulla Kumar is Vice President & 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 & digital transformation.

Shri Dhammapal Khandagale Anil is a dynamic Director (Satellite-Finance) at the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). After completion of his B.Tech degree in Metallurgical Engineering, he joined as a Group-A officer of the 2017 batch in the IP&T FAS services. He is a unique blend of technical, financial and administrative expertise to his role. His job profile includes looking after the economic and financial aspects of satellite-based communication services.

Currently, he is working as Director (Satellite-Finance) in the WPF wing at DoT. Shri Dhammapal is responsible for overseeing the economic and financial facets of satellite-based communication services in India. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the successful 2021 spectrum auction, to allocate spectrum for 4G and future 5G services, a landmark achievement in the Indian telecom sector. His multifaceted career reflects a commitment to innovation and progress in the field of telecommunications.

Peng is the Vice President of Policy & Regulatory at GSOA, where he leads advocacy efforts around spectrum management, licencing, and national policy initiatives. With experience in telecoms, mobile, and satellites, he has advised governments and industry players globally. Previously at Eutelsat OneWeb, Peng shaped licencing frameworks for Low Earth Orbit constellations and satellite regulatory procedures for WRC-23. At GSMA, he ran a global campaign to improve spectrum licensing conditions for mobile operators, leading a global team of policy expert to engage with policymakers across developing markets. Peng holds a Master’s in Telecommunication from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and an Executive MBA from London Business School. He speaks English, Mandarin, and French fluently.

I thrive at the intersection of innovation and regulation, helping emerging technologies enter new markets in a compliant and strategic way. With hands-on experience navigating complex licensing processes and regulatory frameworks across regions like Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, I translate legal and policy requirements into actionable pathways for growth.

Whether working on satellite-based connectivity, next-gen telecom, or frontier technologies, I bring a pragmatic and collaborative approach to regulatory engagement, shaping policy environments that enable innovation while ensuring alignment with national priorities.

’m driven by curiosity, global impact, and the opportunity to help future-forward industries thrive responsibly.

Chris Woolford is Ofcom’s Director of International Spectrum Policy where his responsibilities cover the UK’s international spectrum interests, especially in relation to the ITU, CEPT and EU. He has closely engaged for the UK on a number of key European regulatory initiatives in the field of electronic communications and participates in many European spectrum groups. He leads UK engagement with the ITU and led the UK delegations to WRCs in 2019, 2015 and 2012. He is currently preparing to lead the UK delegation to WRC-23.

In 2019 Mr Woolford took on the role of Chairman of the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) of CEPT and was re-elected for a second term in 2022. He has also been a Director of the International Institute of Communications since 2018.

Mr Woolford has 25 years’ experience of working on spectrum and communications regulation, both at Ofcom and its predecessor (Oftel). He has a degree in mathematics and statistics from Manchester University.

The officer is a specialist in communication, Electronic Warfare and Network Centric Warfare fields. Brigadier Rahul Anand is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Wellington and has attended the Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow. He is a qualified telecommunications engineer, who also holds a Masters of Science and Masters of Philosophy degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies.

He had multiple staff tenures as System Officer, Colonel Quartermaster (Land), Colonel Signal (Project Management) and Chief Signal Officer in various operational environments. He has done instructional tenures at Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow and Army War College. Prior to joining as DACIDS (JCES), Brigadier Anand was Chief Signal Officer (CSO) at Head Quarters Uttar Bharat Area. He has received the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Commendation for his exceptional professional work from Northern, Eastern and Southern Army Commanders.

Marta is an accomplished Spectrum Expert at Eutelsat Group, with a specialized focus on NGSO spectrum policy, licensing, and coordination. She has demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing the company’s global footprint, particularly through her efforts in cultivating relationships within the Americas, Africa and recently APAC Regions, advancing Eutelsat Group’s worldwide outreach for WRC and spectrum regulation.

Marta has an academic background in Telecommunications and Space engineering from Polytechnic University of Madrid. Her native language is Spanish, and she also speaks English fluently.

Dr Vinod Kumar has 35+ years of R&D experience in mobile communications. During his 27year tenure in Alcatel-Lucent (in Alcatel R&I and then in ALU Bell Labs) he initiated and contributed to research projects in 2G-5G technologies – GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA, LTE, LTE A, IoT. He was also involved in standardisation, marketing support and in Patent Management related to above technologies. He contributed to multiple international projects (EC FP6, FP7), acted as Evaluator in EC H2020, ANR and Technical Auditor for CELTIC. He holds Secretary and Treasurer positions in Wireless World Research Forum (WWRF).

Dr Kumar was Visiting Professor for 25 years for graduate courses in mobile communications in ENST (IMT Paris-Tech), CENTRALESUPELEC, ISEP, EURECOM in France; Kingston University, UK and in MNIT, Jaipur in India. He was Associate Professor at the Université de Marne la Vallée in France for six years. He acted as member of Industrial Advisory Board of CTIF Denmark, of Conseil Technique of SUPELEC-France and of the joint INRIA-Bell Labs research lab.

He has widely lectured on 5G (including a full day tutorial at IEEE MWC-2016 and a full week GIAN course at MNIT, Jaipur) and has participated in multiple conferences on communication in IITs and IISc. He has been a guest editor, referee for IEEE publications and PhD guide and examiner with CentraleSupelec and INRIA, France. He has 80 technical publications and 33 patents. His present interests include IoT, NTN integration for 5G to 6G Evolution and impact of AI in the wireless (hyperconnected) world.

Laura has global responsibility for licensing and authorisations and participates in related ITU-R work. She has a PhD in Electronic Engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin (Italy) and many years of experience working in the industry and academic/research world. Her experience covers satellite/terrestrial telecommunication systems and spectrum management and engineering. She is the author of several research papers in the area of radio propagation and she has worked for Inmarsat, British Telecom, NASA and Polytechnic of Turin.

Dr. Sendil Kumar Devar is currently responsible for leading standardization and spectrum engagements in India. He works closely with the national, regional and global working groups related to standards and spectrum matters. He actively contributes towards national preparatory views towards the ITU-R, APT, AWG and WRC., He actively contributed in the IMT-2020 process. At Ericsson, he is focused on future spectrum that are subject of the World Radio Conference and support for technical studies. He was awarded Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with specialization in Wireless Communication from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras., Prior to Ericsson, he worked with research organizations including Samsung R&D, Centre of Excellence of Wireless Technology and Telecom Centre of Excellence. He had contributed to standardization development in both 3GPP2 and 3GPP for HRPD, HSDPA, LTE. He also has a career stint as a mentor in a patent service organization dealing with patents for 4G standards and high-tech industries.

Cristian leads the APAC regional engagement with governments on policy and regulatory matters as part of the Viasat team. He has over 20 years of experience in wireless policy and spectrum regulation. Prior to joining Viasat, Cristian held senior policy and regulatory roles within the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, the mobile industry and the New Zealand spectrum regulator. He has represented New Zealand at WRCs and Asia Pacific regional forums including APT.

Amy Mehlman is EVP and Chief Global Affairs officer at Lynk Global. She is a senior telecommunication professional with nearly three decades hands-on experience helping innovative companies secure establish favorable public policies and secure market access by working with government policymakers, industry partners, and multilateral NGOs.

Most recently, Mehlman worked as VP for Global Affairs and Stakeholder Relations at E-Space Inc. where she led global policy efforts shaping the rapidly growing non-geostationary satellite market, successfully-pursued government contracts, obtained market access, spearheaded partnerships, and oversaw legislative efforts. Prior to that Amy served as VP of U.S. Government Affairs and Global Policy at Viasat, leading their domestic and international policy efforts on satellite licensing, space safety and equitable access to spectrum. Earlier in her career, Amy was Founder and President of a successful boutique telecommunications public policy firm (Mehlman Capitol Strategies) representing over 30 companies before the U.S. Congress, FCC & Executive Branch. Amy began her career at the prestigious Washington, D.C. law firm Wiley, Rein & Fielding where she represented leading wireless, satellite, telecom equipment and broadcast companies before the US Congress and Administration.

"Ethan Mudavanhu is the Regulatory Affairs Lead for Asia, Africa and the Middle East at Sateliot, Europe's first 5G NB-IoT satellite operator, where he leads regulatory strategy and market access to advance direct-to-device satellite connectivity.

He serves as Vice-Rapporteur for ICT and the Environment at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and as a United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Global Ambassador, contributing to international policy and regulatory discussions on space, satellite communications, digital infrastructure, and sustainable connectivity.

A qualified lawyer, Ethan holds an LLB, an LLM in Information and Communication Law from the University of the Witwatersrand, and has completed postgraduate Business Strategy studies at Harvard Business School. He has authored academic publications on technology law and policy and is a sought-after speaker on space policy, spectrum governance, non-terrestrial networks, and the regulatory frameworks shaping the future of global communications.

Diha Amir is the Director, Regulatory Affairs, Asia Pacific at AST SpaceMobile, where she leads regulatory strategy and market access initiatives to enable space-based direct-to-device connectivity across the region. Diha has worked across both the public and private sectors on regulatory, licensing and spectrum matters for mobile and satellite communications. She played a key role in supporting the rollout of Malaysia’s first nationwide 5G network and now works with governments and industry stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific region to support the deployment of direct-to-device satellite services.

Udrivolf is a Space engineer / rocket scientist by degree and citizen of the world, Udri spent his early career in Earth observation and remote sensing, doing research in systems engineering and eventually supporting the European Commission on their Earth observation programme Copernicus. He then moved into the world of spectrum and regulatory affairs, developing skills and expertise on non-GSO systems. He eventually landed at SpaceX where he is responsible for managing International Telecommunication Union (ITU) affairs. Udri’s mission is to support updating ITU rules to maximise efficient use of spectrum resources, so that Starlink (as well as all other NGSO systems) can connect the largest possible number of users around the world with the best possible service.

Mr. Jitendra Singh has been with Qualcomm since 2009, where he serves as a key interface with regional regulatory and policy-making agencies. With over 30 years of communications management experience, including prior government service, he is a prominent figure in India's ITU-R National Working Groups. He has significantly contributed to industry standards, particularly in advocating for and planning additional spectrum for IMT and mobile broadband, both nationally and globally. Mr. Singh has authored numerous impactful ITU-R papers for India and plays a pivotal role in APT region telecom industry coordination. He remained active in various industry associations and has produced influential spectrum policy papers for ITU and APT.

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. From 2014 to 2020 he was the Member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and from 2019-2020 as the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) he took charge for Uttar Pradesh West. From 2014-2019, he was appointed as Chief Whip of Congress in the Lok Sabha and also served as the Chairman of the Election Campaign Committee during the 2013 and 2018 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections.

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.