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 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

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.

Revathi 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.

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.

Prof. N K Goyal is President, CMAI association of India Associated with several industry associations.Former GM HP Electronics Dev Corpn. & President HFCL.Actively engaged in ICT, Mobile, Telecom, Education, Alternate Energy, Multimedia, Infrastructure & Education Sectors.Known for delegations to various Countries and receiving incoming delegations. Representing on more than 180 Government Committees, Groups and very deeply involved in Policy Formulations on Telecom, Mobile, IT, Education.Industry Academic Interface, Guest Speaker, National Vocational Courses with AICTE/MHRD in InstitutesSignature events are NTA ICT World Communication Awards and National Education Awards (at National and State Levels), presented by Secretary General, International Telecom Union, Geneva; Head of Commonwealth Telecom organisation, UK, Ministers from India, Africa etc. And ICOMM, the only exhibition for mobiles held every year in India, China at Shenzhen and Shanghai.In technology field, known for induction of CDMA, Cordect, 3G, 4G, Broadband, Cyber Security etc.

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.

With 33+ years at ISRO, Dr Jain possesses extensive expertise in Satcom and Navigation programs, including planning, implementation, and RF systems. He managed space segment planning, transponder allocation, and pricing, aligning with national Satcom policy. A leader in frequency spectrum management, he is also the Vice Chairman of ITU-R Study Group-4 and has significantly contributed to ITU-R and APT activities, including WRC-19. His experience includes coexistence studies between satellite and 5G services. Currently, as Director at IN-SPACe, he facilitates non- governmental entities, access to ISRO facilities and authorizes their space activities. His specialties include spectrum management, ITU-R contributions, and Satcom/Navigation project management.

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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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.

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

Vinay Paliwal, B-Tech Chemical Engineering graduate from IIT-Madras having expertise in up to 1m class composite solid propellant motor processing for launch vehicles of ISRO. He has interest in development and scale up of high burn rate propellant formulations. Currently as Deputy Director, Programme Management and Authorization Directorate, IN-SPACe, Department of Space, Govt. of India he is engaged in coordination of requirement from various NGE's engaged in space sector for launch vehicle related supply, developmental, testing, technology transfer support from various ISRO centres and launch related authorization for launch from India.

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.

Shri Arun Agarwal is working as DDG (Satellite) in DoT HQ. He is having vast experience of working of the USOF. Shri Agarwal holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics Engineering and an MBA. He is an ITS Officer of 1990 batch and has about 32 years of experience in various areas of telecom such as planning, installation, standardization, rural telecom, USOF Schemes etc. Shri Arun Agarwal is also a member of the DoT’s Committee on “Circular Economy in Telecom Sector” and various Committees of Bureau of Indian Standards.

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. 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.

Cristian is responsible for providing policy advice and regulatory best practice on spectrum matters across markets in Asia Pacific and leads the engagement with governments on spectrum issues. He has over 17 years of experience in national spectrum regulation, international allocation and assignment strategy.

Prior to joining the GSMA, Cristian worked at the New Zealand spectrum regulator and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). He served within Radiocommunication Bureau of the ITU as spectrum regulation and policy officer, providing assistance to Member States on spectrum issues primarily in Asia-Pacific and the Americas.

He has authored publications on spectrum regulatory issues and has been a speaker at international regulatory forums in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Cristian’s academic background includes electronics and communications engineering (Chile, New Zealand), post-graduate studies in Public Policy (University of London) and an MBA (Massey University, New Zealand)

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.

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.

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.

Mr. Bharat Bhatia has over 45 years of experience in Telecom and ICT policy, regulations and spectrum management.He is the President of ITU-APT Foundation of India and Vice Chairman of the World Wireless Research Forum (WWRF) for the Asia Pacific. Mr. Bhatia also chairs the PPDR working groups under ITU and APT. Earlier he was also the President of TEMA – India’s Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association and Vice President of ATIS -Association of Telecom Industries of Singapore. Mr. Bhatia was earlier heading the international spectrum team of Motorola Solutions Inc. where he worked for over 20 years. Prior to that, he was a senior regulator with the Indian Government for 22 years as a spectrum regulator and Telecom policy specialist and was actively involved in opening of the Indian telecom to the private sector, including the licensing of first ever GSM metro cellular in India through a beauty contest in 1992. He was also a key architect of India’s first ever National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP) in 1981 and the first ever published NFAP in 2000. Mr. Bhatia actively participates in various ITU and APT meetings and has attended all World Radio Conferences during the last 20 years.He was the key originator of ITU World Radio Conference Resolutions on PPDR, which were adopted at WRC-2003 and WRC-2015.Mr. Bharat Bhatia holds a B. E. degree from University of Delhi in Electronics and Telecommunications and is a fellow member of IETE, the Institution of Electronics & Telecommunications Engineers. He did his Foundational Course from Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in 1976.

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

Lokesh Kabdal, Co-founder & CEO, AeroDome Technologies, is an alumnus of IIT-Madras (M.Tech, Machine Design, 21-23 Batch). During his time at IIT-M he was the core team member of the prestigious team Avishkar Hyperloop, and led the team to develop the world’s longest hyperloop ecosystem in India, at the same time 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/PNT architecture and pivoted the business with the determination to solve it from its roots, and as result of it, the team is now building India’s First and Largest Private Global Satellite Constellation.

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

Dr Jitendra Singh, has taken over as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology as the Ministries were included under the charge of Office of the Prime Minister.

He is a physician known for his work on diabetes and endocrinology. He has been a professor, a consultant, clinical practitioner, author of eight books, and a newspaper columnist as also the ex-chairman for the National Scientific Committee Diabetes and the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India.

With an M.B.B.S. degree from Stanley Medical College, Chennai and M.D. from Government Medical College, Jammu, Dr Singh has authored several books including Monograms on Diabetes and World Book Fair best seller, “Diabetes Made Easy”. He is also the author of chapters on diabetes in text books for Post Graduate Course (Medicine) and runs a syndicated weekly column “Tales of Travesty”, popularly read and regularly published for three decades. He is Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office; Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space.

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.

Rahul Vatts is Chief Regulatory Officer (India & South Asia), Bharti Airtel & Director – OneWeb Communications India and Vice Chairman of Indian Space Association (ISpA). He is also Board Director in Indo Teleports Limited & Mobipro, which runs India Mobile Congress.

A telecom & digital industry veteran with over 29 years of experience with leading corporations, Rahul is an expert on Telecom Licensing, Economic & Digital Regulations, Spectrum Management and Regulatory Litigation. He has actively shaped public policy discussion in emerging areas such as data privacy, Open Access, M2M & IoT and content self-regulation. He firmly believes that the aim of policy and regulatory environment should be delivering benefits to stakeholders across value chain viz. consumers, businesses and the Government.

Rahul’s domain expertise has been extensively used in global forums by OneWeb UK, Axiata in Malaysia, Indosat in Indonesia and Dialog in Sri Lanka.

Rahul did his Engineering in Telecommunications from University of Pune and is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad and The Wharton School, Pennsylvania. He has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Cellular operators Association of India (COAI) for more than a decade and is also member of FSMA Global policy group and Spectrum Management group besides being a Governing Council member of various Telecom standardization bodies in India.

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.

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.