Navigating the future of connectivity and security: A guide to the Suraksha Pillar at IMC 2026

The India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 promises to be a landmark event for the global telecommunications and technology sectors. A major focal point of this year's conference is the "Suraksha" venue. This dedicated event pillar lives up to its name by spotlighting the most critical aspects of digital infrastructure, next-generation connectivity, and cybersecurity.

Over four days, from October 7 to 10, the Suraksha stage will host a highly comprehensive series of sessions, panels, and interactive meets featuring leading voices in the industry.

The diverse programming at the Suraksha venue kicks off on Wednesday, October 7, with an extensive Buyer-Seller Meet in the morning. The focus shifts to foundational digital issues with a critical session titled "Beyond Data Residency: Building Trusted Sovereign Digital Infrastructure."


Next, the Spectrum track session "Spectrum Landscape: Navigating the Present, Shaping the Future" addresses spectrum management, featuring expert insights from Luciana Camargos (Head of Spectrum, GSMA). The first day concludes with an in-depth, two-part exploration of the 5G track: "5G Monetisation Models, Impediments & QoE." Part A will feature Hakan Dursun (Chief Strategy Officer,GSMA) and Farjola Peco (Head of Strategy, MOAI Strategy, Ericsson), while Part B continues the rich discussion with Amit Sethi (Head of Strategy, MOAI Strategy, Ericsson) and Affandy Johan (Industry Analyst, OOKLA).

Continuing the momentum on Thursday, October 8, the agenda is dedicated entirely to the rapidly evolving world of Satellite Communications and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). The focused programming begins with "Building the SatCom Policy Foundation," followed immediately by a deep dive into "Direct-to-Device: Powering the Next Wave of Connectivity," featuring renowned speakers Sachida Padhi (Principal Consultant – Audio and Media Technologies Division, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS), Prasanna Nagarajan (Chief Technology Officer, OQ Technology), and Dr Dilip Krishnaswamy (Executive Vice President, C-DOT).

Later in the day, Nicolas Sauvage (President, T DK Ventures) and Mahesh Kumar Basavaraju (Global Market Segment Manager, Rohde & Schwarz) will lead the session on "Converging Satellite and Terrestrial Networks." The day wraps up with a targeted look at practical implementations in "From Coverage to Business Outcomes in Satellite Communications," steered by Dharmendra Singh (Chief Marketing Officer, Hughes Communications India) and Venkatesh Kumaran (President, Astrome Technologies Pvt Ltd).

On Friday, October 9, attendees will find a robust, highly anticipated lineup centred purely on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The morning sessions form a comprehensive summit, starting with "CyberSec Telecom India: Where Security Meets the Future," followed closely by "AI-Native Telecom Security," mapping defences against emerging AI-based threats, and an exploration of "Securing the Telecom Supply Chain: Indigenous Capacity, Patch & Backdoor Risks, and Trusted Sandbox Validation."

After the Valedictory session, the afternoon delves into complex AI dynamics with "AI vs AI: Navigating the next Cybersecurity Shift," led by Vivek Dua (PGM Corporate Mktg., BSNL) and Dr Pankaj Kumar Dalela (Executive Director, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)). The critical task of "Securing the Telecom Network Core" will then be tackled by G V Dhanamjaya Rao (DGM NOC, BSNL), Vikas Dahiya (VP, Global Business Head Cybersecurity, Mobile Infrastructure, Nokia), Jagdeep Walia (Head of Network Security, MOAI Network Solutions, Ericsson), and Debasish Banerjee (Director Sales SP Business INDIA, Fortinet Technologies India Pvt Ltd.). Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay (CEO, C-DOT) will speak on "Resilient Networks and Indigenous 6G Infrastructure for Armed Forces," before the day concludes with a session on "Responsible AI for a Scalable Digital Future."

Finally, the Suraksha pillar concludes its extensive conference programming on Saturday, October 10, with an immersive, day-long, hands-on event. Running continuously, the "ITU Build-A-Thon AI Agents for 5G Communication Networks" will provide attendees with practical, actionable experience in next-generation network technologies.

Do not miss the opportunity to witness these critical conversations shaping the future of global telecommunications and digital security. Registrations are open on the IMC website separately for delegates, visitors, students, and the media.

Furthermore, ensure you stay perfectly connected with all the latest industry developments by following IMC 2026 with ET for live updates and insights!