Telecom Operators and DoT Push for Light-Touch AI Regulation

Indian telecom operators, alongside the Department of Telecommunication (DoT), are pushing for a "light-touch," risk-based regulatory framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI). This approach aims to ensure high service quality and incorporate human oversight, rather than delving into proprietary AI systems with invasive audits.

At a Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) event on AI and Telecom, Ambika Khurana, Chief Regulatory & Corporate Affairs Officer at Vodafone Idea, emphasized the need for an "enabling regulatory system." She stated that accountability should focus on service excellence delivered to subscribers, not necessarily on internal system transparency.

The DoT and operators are moving away from earlier proposals, such as mandatory pre-deployment AI testing. Their proposed model prioritizes service quality and human oversight. This aligns with the DoT's establishment of a National Working Group on AI-related technical standardizations in June 2026.

Mehul Joshi, Deputy Director General & CISO at DoT, confirmed the government's "light-touch" approach, aimed at fostering technological development without hindering progress. This strategy is supported by the India AI Mission, which allocates significant funding over five years.

Discussions also highlighted the necessity for accountability, even if full human control is not always feasible. The goal is to ensure AI system design and architecture adhere to principles and establish clear responsibility. Pankaj Verma, National Cyber Security Advisor at Cisco, proposed an "agentic Security Operations Center" model, where AI agents provide defense and oversight, with necessary visibility into their actions and resource consumption.