Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, the Minister for Communications for the Government of India, opened the 25th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunications Regulators’ Council (SATRC-25) on November 11, 2024. Scindia stated that India has become the Voice of the Global South and that SATRC-25 will provide a great platform for uniting innovative viewpoints on new policy and regulatory issues during the key address.

He also emphasized that a "future focused on security, safety, and established standards should direct the policy-making of regulatory agencies."

Minister Scindia highlighted India's role in advancing digital infrastructure, emphasizing the nation's dedication to increasing broadband access, improving regulatory frameworks, and fostering an inclusive digital environment. "India stands as a digital giant with an astounding 1.2 billion phone users and 970 million internet subscriptions, featuring a fast-changing digital economy that now makes up 10 percent of our total economic framework—an impressive increase from a mere 3.5 percent ten years prior."

"With our digital economy growing at a rate 2.8 times faster than the overall national economy, we expect it to achieve an impressive 20 percent by 2026–27," he remarked. He encouraged the member countries to work together on crucial matters like sustainable network infrastructure, digital inclusion, and consumer protection. Imagining a region flourishing through common values and cooperative support, he stated, “South Asia needs to come together in its endeavors to create a linked, strong, and sustainable future.”

In discussing recent technological progress, he highlighted that the emergence of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) offers a revolutionary chance to expand telecom coverage to the farthest reaches of the nation. He continued by stating that he is hopeful that the development of NTNs will open new horizons in communication technologies, sparking creative applications in various fields, and ultimately propelling our shared progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The gathering was joined by a distinguished gathering of Heads of Regulators and affiliate members from SATRC member countries including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.