India nominates DoT’s M. Revathi for a seat at ITU for 2027-2030 term

India has officially put forth the nomination of M. Revathi, who serves as the Joint Wireless Adviser at the Department of Telecommunications’ Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) division, for the prestigious role of Director of the Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the term spanning 2027 to 2030. Revathi, a seasoned professional in the fields of telecommunications and space technology, stands among a diverse group of candidates from nations such as France, Japan, and Germany. These nominations were unveiled during the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (WTDC-25) held in Baku, Azerbaijan. This key position plays a vital role in shaping global telecom regulations and standards, particularly as the world witnesses a swift evolution in digital infrastructure. Her candidacy comes at a time of increasing competition in the realm of commercial satellite communications. With companies like Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper ramping up their operations, experts have raised concerns about the accessibility of orbital resources. Although these resources are legally classified as shared under the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, they are increasingly monopolized by corporations from developed countries. This trend poses a significant risk of exacerbating the digital divide, potentially limiting equitable access for developing nations. During the opening of the High-Level Segment on the first day of WTDC-25, C.S. Pemmasani, India’s Minister of State for Communications, highlighted the nomination as part of India’s strategic initiative to elevate the voice of the Global South. He stressed the importance of India serving as a conduit between developed and developing countries, advocating for fair access to technology and the establishment of strong frameworks for technology transfer that would benefit lower- and middle-income nations. The election cycle for the ITU is now underway, with final votes set to take place at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) in Doha, Qatar, in November 2026. The results will play a crucial role in shaping global digital governance and will influence how nations protect their digital sovereignty in the coming years.