India and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and future telecommunications technologies during a meeting on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The bilateral meeting took place between India’s Minister of State for Communications, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, and UK Parliamentary Under‑Secretary of State for AI and Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan, as both sides reviewed progress under the India‑UK 2030 Roadmap and the UK‑India Technology Security Initiative — initiatives that focus on digital innovation and emerging technology cooperation.
Both countries welcomed progress under the existing Department of Telecommunications‑DCMS Memorandum of Understanding and noted the operationalisation of the India‑UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre, which was endorsed at the India Mobile Congress 2025. These frameworks serve to deepen ties in key technology areas and establish structured platforms for collaboration in next‑generation digital infrastructure.
Dr. Sekhar highlighted that AI will be central to the future of telecommunications, noting that India’s scale and the UK’s research strengths provide a strong foundation for shaping global standards in AI‑native networks, Open RAN, and 6G technologies. The officials also discussed collaboration opportunities under India’s National Quantum Mission, especially in quantum communications and secure networks — signalling intent to expand cooperation into cutting‑edge technology domains.
Both sides emphasised their shared commitment to building secure, trusted, and future‑ready digital infrastructure through continued institutional engagement. This reaffirmed cooperation supports broader goals of innovation, technological sovereignty, and global leadership in emerging tech, aligning with ongoing initiatives to deepen ties between India and the UK in science and technology.
