India Smart Grid Week (ISGW 2015), an International Conference and Exhibition on Smart Grids and Smart Cities, as organised by ISGF scheduled from 02 – 06 March 2015 at Bangalore International Exhibition Center, Bangalore held on 6/3/2015

Indo-European Dialogue on ICT Standards & Emerging Technologies – 4th November 2015

1. In view of the resounding success and positive feedback of its first event held on 13-14 March 2014 in India, ETSI organized the 2nd edition of the “Indo-European dialogue on ICT standards & Emerging Technologies”, on November 4th 2015 in New Delhi. The event was organized under the scope of Project SESEI for bridging the ICT Indo European dialogue and in particular for bringing forward and promoting ETSI’s work and ongoing activities within the Indian standardization community and its actors. The event was held back to back with the 2nd EU-INDIA Co-Operation on ICT Standards Project (http://www.indiaeu-ictstandards.in/) workshop which took place on the 5thNov
2. ETSI once again brought together technical experts from its community and Indian stakeholders for sharing and learning from each other. Strengthening the existing dialogue further in key ICT standardization areas and by hearing from the Indian perspective, their specific requirements and specifications which will help us bridging the two regions even more and create a true long lasting Indo-European dialogue and relationship. This event represented another opportunity to provide stakeholders with an update of present and future ETSI standardization activities and to trigger dialogue with Indian stakeholders for assessing where potential standardization gaps can be bridged and where new venues for collaboration can be established. In summary, maintaining this dialogue strengthens 1) ETSI’s image in India as the privileged ICT SDO to collaborate with, 2) the creation of new venues for collaboration and 3) the relations with local partners and members.
3. Event Programme and side meetings: the topics identified for this 2nd dialogue were consistent and in-line with key ongoing ICT trends and policy initiatives/needs for India and Europe. Event was inaugurated by H.E. Tomasz Kozlowski, Ambassador designate and Head of Delegation of the European Union to India, and Shri Rakesh Garg, IAS, Chairman TC & Secretary (T), DOT, Ministry of Communications & IT, Govt. of India along with Mr. Luis Jorge Romero, Director General – European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), Mr. Rajan Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), Dr. Asok Chatterjee, Director General, Telecom Standards Development Society India (TSDSI), Prof Sandip S Inamdar, Chairman, R&D Committee, Global ICT Standardisation Forum for India (GISFI) and Mr. T.V. Ramachandran, Chairman Telecom Sector Council, European Business Group. The conference presented the audience with an overview of the following themes while covering the European and Indian perspectives:
   1. Smart City enablers (Internet of Things, Smart Appliances and Machine to Machine)
   2. 5G enablers (Network Functions Virtualization, Spectrum choices for the future and Mobile Edge Computing)
   3. Societal enablers (Cyber Security, Lawful Intercept, 3GPP/Telecom Security and Privacy & Trust)

   Presentations are available here: http://www.etsi.org/news-events/past-events/987-2015-11-2nd-indo-european-dialogue-on-ict-standards-emerging-technologies

4. The conference was attended by over 210 participants, representing the gamut of Indian ICT stakeholders i.e. Indian Standardization Bodies, senior officials from Ministry of Communications and IT, BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), Telecom, SP/NLD (Internet Service Provider/National Long Distance) Operator community, IT and Telecom Equipment Vendors, Telecom, Industry Association and Academicians associated with standards and Technology.
   The European representation consisted of ETSI delegation, EU & EFTA Country Embassies representation / concerned officials and Delegation of the European Union to India.
5. SESEI Role: SESEI has been closely following the progress of standards development activities in India, including challenges and issues of the ICT sector. SESEI along with ETSI identified a suitable timelines to schedule conference to present the most recent standardization work and new technologies being worked at ETSI including Security work at 3GPP. SESEI maintained dialogue with ETSI and the Indian ICT Community to identify topics, themes and issues to be taken up during this two day conference and workshop. In coordination of ETSI, identified topics, sub-topics, Indian speakers, extending invitation to Indian speakers and personally ensuring their availability. Defined the progamme flow, background papers for each session and played the role of master of entire activities, ceremonies during the Conference and Workshop.
6. The event was highly successful and appreciated amongst both Indian and European ICT Communities, Ministry of Communications & IT, Vendors and operator community equally. Topics, themes, selection of speakers, flow of the event received positive comments and observation from delegates as well as speakers. Above all, the event was a constructive and positive milestone towards re-affirming the dialogue between Europe and India on ICT Standards and ETSI’s image in India.
7. Take-aways & Follow-up for SESEI/ETSI: The event provided an opportunity not only to present ETSI’s standards activities but was also instrumental for understanding where India stands in these different areas presented and what are the Indian requirements. The summarization of the event and follow-up action items emerging post the discussions held at the event are;
   1. Working together is the right way forward, Project SESEI is instrumental connecting the two regions SDOs and associated activities
   2. Security is essential, let’s work and address it together
   3. Work on Standards through TSDSI has progressed well: continue positioning India in the global space by participation, and contribution and working together.
   4. ICT sector needs global standards and India, being the 2nd largest market for the ICT sector, needs to position itself as a global player
   5. Topics such as 5G, NFV/SDN, M2M/IoT, Mobile Edge Computing etc. are the topics of mutual interest and cooperation shall continue through Project SESEI and other existing agreements in place.