The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organised a National Workshop on “Advancing Circular Economy in the Telecom Sector: Enabling Policy & Practice” in New Delhi. The workshop brought together policymakers, industry leaders, technology providers, academia, international organisations and value-chain stakeholders to chart actionable pathways for embedding circular economy principles across India’s rapidly expanding telecom sector.
Towards Lifecycle-Based and Sustainable Telecom Growth
The workshop focused on aligning policy frameworks, industry practices and technology solutions to enable long-term sustainability and resilience in the telecom sector. Discussions covered sustainable product design, efficient resource utilisation, lifecycle management of telecom assets, digital tools and innovative financing mechanisms, with the objective of transitioning from a linear “use-and-discard” model to a regenerative and circular system.
Telecom Sustainability: From Intent to Implementation
Delivering the inaugural keynote address, R. N. Palai, Member (Technology), Digital Communications Commission (DCC) and ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India, DoT, emphasised that sustainability and circularity in telecom are no longer optional but strategic imperatives.
He noted that although the telecom sector contributes less than two percent of India’s greenhouse gas emissions, its scale—serving nearly 1.2 billion users—places a responsibility on the sector to lead by example. Describing telecom as the invisible infrastructure of the modern economy, Shri Palai highlighted its role as a silent enabler of climate action, improving efficiency and reducing emissions across multiple sectors.
While the transition to renewable energy in telecom networks is gaining momentum, he stressed that sustainability must extend across the entire lifecycle of telecom products and infrastructure, encompassing e-waste management, right-to-repair, sustainable design and resource efficiency.
UNDP’s Role and Global Perspective
Addressing the workshop, Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP, highlighted UNDP’s close collaboration with the Government of India in advancing circular economy transitions, including support to DoT in preparing a Circular Economy Plan for the Telecom Sector.
She urged stakeholders to use the platform to develop a time-bound and actionable roadmap, supported by clear policy frameworks, industry commitment, innovation investments, infrastructure development and strong monitoring and accountability mechanisms.
Policy and Practice: Circular Economy Action Plan
A key highlight of the workshop was a presentation by Arun Agarwal, Deputy Director General (Satellite), DoT, on the Circular Economy Action Plan for the Indian Telecom Sector. The presentation outlined policy directions and practical interventions covering:
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Sustainable design and manufacturing
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Lifecycle management of telecom assets
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Reduction and management of e-waste
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Adoption of digital tracking systems
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Strengthening transparent and resilient supply chains
Expert Panel Discussions
The technical deliberations featured two focused panel discussions:
Session I: Rethinking the Telecom Supply Chain for Circularity and Sustainability
Moderated by Shri Arun Agarwal, the panel included representatives from MeitY, industry, regulatory bodies and international organisations. Discussions addressed government initiatives, challenges in circular supply chains, design for circularity, component harvesting, sustainable procurement and existing industry practices.
Session II: Digital Tools for Transition towards Circular Economy
Moderated by Dr. Shilpi Karmakar, Project Manager, UNDP, this session explored the role of digital platforms, data analytics, AI, IoT and blockchain-based traceability in improving transparency, enabling Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation and enhancing material recovery in the telecom sector.
From Dialogue to Action
In the concluding session, participants unanimously stressed the need for India’s telecom sector to move from dialogue to implementation. Key takeaways included:
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Coordinated, ecosystem-level action
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Creation of enabling policy and regulatory frameworks
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Strengthened multi-stakeholder collaboration platforms
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Pilot-to-scale pathways for circular solutions
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Shared ownership, with government enabling, industry innovating and partners supporting implementation, capacity building and financing
Conclusion
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment by DoT, UNDP and all stakeholders to accelerate India’s transition towards a circular, sustainable and resilient telecom sector. By embedding lifecycle-based thinking, leveraging digital tools and fostering cross-sector collaboration, India’s telecom ecosystem is poised to lead by example in aligning technological growth with environmental responsibility.
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Source: PIB
