BSNL’s Vision for Assam’s Digital Future Unveiled at Advantage Assam Summit 2025

Guwahati- Addressing a gathering at the Advantage Assam Summit 2025, A. Robert J. Ravi, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), emphasized the transformative power of technology in driving Assam’s progress. During the “IWay to Viksit Assam” session, Ravi outlined BSNL’s commitment to building the state’s digital backbone through connectivity, infrastructure, and innovation.

Ravi highlighted the crucial role of digital connectivity in turning Assam into a technologically advanced, economically robust, and globally competitive state. “Through fiber-optic highways, 5G networks,  AI-driven governance, and digital inclusion, we can build a truly Viksit Assam,” he stated.

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Three Pillars for Assam’s Digital Growth

Ravi identified three foundational pillars that would serve as the “IWay” or digital highway to a prosperous Assam. These pillars are aimed at empowering citizens, strengthening industries, and enhancing governance.

Empowering Citizens through Digital Access
Ravi stressed the need for seamless digital access to public services. Under the Digital India initiative, technology has already revolutionized service delivery. Moving forward, he suggested the creation of a Metaverse-driven citizen service center where residents can access government services in their native languages through AI-driven digital avatars. This system would allow citizens to quickly process documents, access welfare schemes with one-touch authentication, and print required documents via self-service kiosks.

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Strengthening Industry & Economy: Enabling Enterprises and MSMEs
Ravi also underscored the importance of automation in industry. He warned that Assam’s industries must embrace automation to remain competitive as industries worldwide prepare to adopt Industry Revolution 4.0. “Assam has the potential to be India’s next big manufacturing and digital hub. BSNL’s robust telecom and IT infrastructure will lay the foundation for this transformation,” he said.

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AI-Powered Digital Governance
Ravi pointed out that data is the new oil, and Assam must create a unified, AI-driven data ecosystem for governance. By integrating real-time data into central repositories, AI models could predict congestion, optimize public transport, and track extreme weather events, enabling timely intervention. Additionally, district officials could monitor various data streams—ranging from GST collections to traffic patterns—directly from their offices, making governance smarter and more efficient.

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BSNL’s Role in Building Assam’s Digital Infrastructure

BSNL is already laying the groundwork for a next-generation digital ecosystem in Assam through its Bharat Net Expansion Programme. This initiative aims to connect 26,000 villages and 2,265 Gram Panchayats (GPs) to high-speed fiber broadband under the Amended Bharat Net Project (ABP).

Ravi also highlighted BSNL’s partnership with AMTRON to launch private 5G networks for sectors like oil, healthcare, and logistics. The project will enable the creation of Wi-Fi hotspots, AI-powered traffic systems, and IoT-enabled smart grids to drive urban transformation.

“BSNL is not just a telecom provider—we are a digital enabler for Assam, working towards a connected, intelligent, and secure future,” Ravi asserted.

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BSNL’s Roadmap for a Digital Assam

The three pillars—empowering citizens, enabling industries, and enhancing governance—form the roadmap for Assam’s digital transformation. Ravi stressed the need for reliable, high-speed internet to bridge the urban-rural digital divide, the importance of robust telecom infrastructure for industrial competitiveness, and the role of smart governance tools in making public services more efficient and accessible.

His remarks align with the broader vision of the Advantage Assam Summit, which seeks to position the state as a hub for investment and innovation.

The three pillars of BSNL’s vision are expected to address key challenges such as rural connectivity, automation in industries, and governance efficiency. By leveraging its telecommunications infrastructure, BSNL is poised to support Assam’s growth into a global leader in digital transformation.