The organization serves as a platform for collaboration among diverse stakeholders in India’s telecommunications sector, including government agencies, industry bodies, and academic institutions. It focuses on policy development in key areas such as spectrum management, digital inclusion, rural connectivity, and emerging technologies including 5G, 6G, and satellite communications.[4]
History
Established in 2003, the ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) was founded to facilitate India’s participation in global information and communication technology (ICT) governance. It aims to support national efforts in technical, regulatory, and policy matters within international bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT). Since its inception, IAFI has consistently contributed technical proposals and policy inputs to international telecommunications conferences and meetings.[5]
Objectives
IAFI’s stated objectives encompass facilitating the active participation of Indian stakeholders in international policy-making processes related to information and communication technologies (ICTs). The foundation aims to support the harmonization of domestic telecommunications regulations with globally recognized standards established by bodies such as the ITU and APT. It plays a significant role in strengthening institutional and individual capacity through technical training, awarenessworkshops, and expert consultations. Additionally, IAFI advocates for forward-looking reforms and promotes research and innovation in areas such as digital infrastructure, satellite communication, next-generation networks, and spectrum policy to enhance India's digital ecosystem.[6][7]
Activities
The organization organizes national and international conferences, expert group meetings, and capacity-building workshops to foster knowledge sharing and collaborative policy dialogue. These initiatives aim to support evidence-based policymaking and promote engagement between public institutions, industry stakeholders, academic researchers, and civil society. IAFI also plays a preparatory role in supporting India’s contributions to major international telecommunications forums, such as the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), by facilitating technical discussions and coordinating stakeholder inputs.[8][9][10]
Selected Events
Notable events hosted or co-organized by IAFI include the Wi-Fi in 6GHz – Unlocking Innovation workshop (June 2025),[11][12] the 2nd WRC-27 Preparatory Workshop (April 2025), and the ISPC-25 Space Policy Conference (July 2025), held in collaboration with the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA).[13][14][15] Additionally, IAFI convened the 4th India Spectrum Management Conference (ISMC-24) in November 2024, focusing on national spectrum policy and regulatory developments.[16]
The foundation focuses on a range of policy and technical areas, including spectrum policy and allocation, the development of next-generation mobile networks such as 5G and 6G, satellite-based communications and broadband access, rural and remote connectivity, and frameworks for ICT standardization and regulation. These thematic areas align with IAFI's broader objectives of advancing equitable access to digital infrastructure and promoting technological progress in India's telecom sector.[20][21]
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