From 64Kbps to 6G: The Quantum Leap in India’s Tech Journey

DR. GULSHAN RAI
FORMER NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY COORDINATOR AND DIRECTOR GENERAL, CERT-IN

“It is a privilege to stand before this distinguished gathering of veterans and visionaries who have shaped the very foundations of our digital and security ecosystems. Tonight isn’t about my personal journey—it’s about our collective one. The recognition I receive is a tribute to the shared work, planning, and resilience of all of us who’ve brought this ecosystem to where it stands today.

As Atul highlighted earlier, our journey began in simpler times. And today, we find ourselves navigating an era of unprecedented complexity. These aren’t futuristic challenges— they’re here. Just last month, data traffic between two of the world’s most advanced nations was hijacked for hours every day over a full week. Post-quantum cryptography, state-level actors, and sophisticated hijacks are not on the horizon—they’re happening now.

Think about how far we’ve come. In 2000, we were building backbones with 64K lines, planning 565 Mbps copper networks—numbers that now feel quaint. Today, homes enjoy gigabit speeds; 5G is here; 6G is emerging. With that explosion in connectivity, our security challenges have multiplied exponentially.

To face this reality, we need more than tools—we need smart solutions for smart problems. Adaptive, integrated systems that protect economies, businesses, and citizens while keeping pace with forces like AI, deepfakes, and quantum threats.

But solving this requires four essentials:

• Comprehensive systems tailored to real business needs and emerging threat vectors.

• Skilled talent to design, scale, and evolve these solutions.

• Regulatory harmony—because today, conflicting rules slow us more than they protect us.

Collaboration, where government transitions from driver to facilitator, empowering the industry that holds the expertise to lead.

Technology’s acceleration cannot be stopped. AI, deepfakes, post-quantum computing—they’re inevitable. Our task isn’t to resist but to harness them—securely, responsibly, and innovatively.

I extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Sahu for this honor and to everyone who has built the platforms, partnerships, and resilience we stand on today. Let’s continue working together—not just to keep up with the future, but to secure it.”