India–Brazil ICT Cooperation: Assessing The 2026 Telecommunications And Digital Partnership

Policy Update
Mannat Abbot

Background

India and Brazil have had diplomatic relations since 1948, and their relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2006. Since then, cooperation has expanded into areas such as trade, science and technology, energy and digital development. Building on this broader relationship, the two countries have now strengthened cooperation in telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies, or ICTs. India and Brazil have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation in telecommunications and information and communications technologies (ICTs).

The agreement will advance digital innovation, strengthen digital infrastructure and foster cooperation in emerging technologies. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting in Pune by Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and H.E. Mr Frederico de Siqueira Filho, Minister of Communications, Brazil. The MoU would deepen bilateral collaboration on universal connectivity, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure, emerging technologies, capacity building and exchange of best practices. The agreement is a strong step forward in bolstering India-Brazil collaboration for a secure and inclusive digital future.

The scale of India’s transformation offers another indication of what is at stake. The country has installed more than 5.18 lakh 5G base stations, with 5G services available across 776 of 777 districts. Around 38 crore wireless data subscribers are already using 5G (Direct DoT/Ministry of Communications source (6 February 2026)).

Brazil crossed another important threshold in 2025, when 168.7 million people, or 90.5% of its population aged 10 and above, were using the internet.

India’s 6G vision focuses on empowering society through indigenous innovation, advanced R&D, and global collaboration. With active participation from industry, academia, and research institutions, India is positioning itself as a global hub for future telecom technologies, aligned with the broader national goal of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The invisible infrastructure of the future is already being built. India and Brazil now have an opportunity not merely to connect to that future, but to help design it. The cables will lie beneath the oceans, satellites will orbit far above, and the signals will move invisibly across borders. Communications infrastructure is becoming part of the productive economy itself.

That makes the inclusion of Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) especially significant. Both India and Brazil are developing domestic capabilities around open and interoperable radio-access networks: India’s Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has developed an Open RAN (O-RAN)-compliant Fifth Generation (5G) Radio Access Network (RAN) and established a 5G Open RAN consortium involving industry and academia, while Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has been studying the technology’s technological, economic and regulatory implications. The India–Brazil Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in August 2026 specifically includes Open RAN among the areas for cooperation, creating scope for the two countries to exchange technical experience, support testing and interoperability, and strengthen their domestic telecom technology ecosystems.

The same logic applies to Direct-to-Device connectivity, Low Earth Orbit satellites and Non-Terrestrial Networks. The future network is unlikely to be purely terrestrial. Fibre, mobile infrastructure and space-based systems will work together, creating communications networks capable of reaching places where conventional infrastructure remains difficult or expensive.

For India and Brazil, that convergence offers practical possibilities. Disaster resilience, remote connectivity and rural access all become easier to imagine when the digital network is no longer tied entirely to the physical limitations of a terrestrial tower.

Brazil’s January 2025 regulatory framework designated the upper 6 GHz band (6.425–7.125 GHz) for mobile services, following the international identification of the band for IMT at WRC-23. This places Brazil among countries balancing the spectrum needs of both mobile networks and Wi-Fi. It means that both Wi-Fi and mobile have the resources they need to improve digital inclusion, to provide access to jobs and education, and to allow for innovation in industry and technology.

Functioning

The MoU establishes an institutional framework for regular exchange of information, experience and best practices, based on equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect. It covers a wide range of areas, including telecommunications policy and regulation, 5G and 6G, Open RAN, AI, satellite and non-terrestrial networks, spectrum management, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital inclusion and Digital Public Infrastructure. Rather than creating binding commitments for specific deployments, the MoU provides a framework through which the two countries can develop cooperation through information exchange, joint studies, technical meetings, training and other collaborative activities.

The practical value of the agreement will therefore depend on how this broad framework is translated into specific institutional and technical initiatives. A first step would be the preparation of a joint work plan identifying priority areas, responsible agencies and potential projects. Government bodies such as India’s Department of Telecommunications and C-DOT and Brazil’s Ministry of Communications and Anatel could provide the institutional coordination, while telecom operators, technology companies, universities and research institutions could participate in technical projects and trials. This would allow cooperation to move beyond government-level dialogue and bring private-sector and research capabilities into the partnership.

Cooperation could initially focus on areas where both countries face comparable challenges but have complementary experience. For example, spectrum management and telecom standards could provide opportunities for regulatory exchanges and technical studies; 5G/6G and Open RAN could support interoperability testing and joint research; and satellite and non-terrestrial connectivity could facilitate exchanges on extending connectivity to underserved areas. Similarly, India’s experience with Digital Public Infrastructure and Brazil’s experience with large-scale digital services and payments could support exchanges on the design, interoperability and implementation of population-scale digital systems.

A more project-orientated approach would also make the partnership easier to evaluate. The two countries could establish technical working groups for selected areas, conduct joint feasibility or research studies, organise reciprocal technical visits and training programmes, and subsequently identify projects suitable for pilot implementation. Where appropriate, successful pilots could then be adapted or scaled through participating public agencies and private-sector partners. This phased approach would allow cooperation to develop from policy dialogue → technical exchange → joint research/testing → pilot projects → wider deployment.

The effectiveness of the MoU should consequently be assessed not simply by the number of meetings or exchanges undertaken, but by the tangible outputs generated from them. Useful indicators could include the number of joint pilots launched, research or technology-development collaborations established, interoperability or testing initiatives completed, and capacity-building programmes conducted. Such measures would help determine whether the MoU is developing into a substantive India–Brazil technology partnership rather than remaining primarily a framework for dialogue.

Impact

Connectivity has been a major issue in both India and Brazil. This collaborative mission could play an increasingly important role in extending digital services to remote communities. The enhanced collaboration is expected to support digital innovation, strengthen technological capabilities and contribute to a more inclusive and secure digital future.

Market access for Indian telecom technology: Cooperation in areas like Open RAN and 5G/6G could open opportunities for Indian telecom equipment makers and service providers in the Brazilian market, and vice versa. Both countries possess large domestic markets, growing digital economies and increasingly sophisticated technology ecosystems. Cooperation in telecommunications could therefore extend beyond government-level exchanges and create opportunities for companies, research institutions, telecom operators and technology developers from both countries.
Diversifying the global supply chain: Joint work on submarine cables, spectrum management, and satellite networks supports efforts to reduce dependence on a small number of dominant technology suppliers globally. The cooperation could also help both countries develop approaches to emerging infrastructure challenges, particularly the integration of satellite and terrestrial networks, spectrum management and the expansion of resilient connectivity.
Boost to Digital Public Infrastructure exports: India has been positioning its DPI model for international cooperation, including through partnerships covering India Stack and population-scale digital solutions. Brazil is already among the countries with which India has established cooperation on DPI, and the India–Brazil ICT MoU signed in August 2026 explicitly identifies Digital Public Infrastructure as an area of bilateral cooperation. This creates scope for the two countries to exchange implementation experience and explore the adaptation of interoperable digital systems to other emerging-economy contexts.
• Strengthening BRICS-level digital cooperation: The bilateral MoU was signed alongside the BRICS ICT Track and complements an expanding BRICS framework for cooperation on digital technologies. In 2026, BRICS members used the ICT Working Group to coordinate on AI, next-generation communications, cybersecurity, Digital Public Infrastructure and digital ecosystem cooperation, while BRICS national standardisation bodies also began discussing cooperation on emerging technology and AI standards. The India–Brazil MoU therefore gives their bilateral relationship a concrete channel through which the two countries can exchange experience and coordinate on areas such as AI, 5G/6G, Open RAN, cybersecurity, satellite/NTN technologies and spectrum management.
Regulatory and technical knowledge exchange: The MoU creates a bilateral channel for regular exchanges of regulatory and technical experience, which could help both countries develop approaches to emerging infrastructure challenges. The cooperation could also support the exchange of lessons from their respective connectivity initiatives and inform future policy and regulatory decisions.

Emerging Issues

Digital cooperation and cybersecurity have also become increasingly relevant as both governments invest in expanding digital services and strengthening critical infrastructure. Weak cybersecurity or poor consent rules can affect millions of users. Accessibility and offline options remain essential for inclusion.

Differing spectrum auction timelines: India and Brazil conduct their spectrum auctions according to their own national schedules. India might be allocating a particular band while Brazil is dealing with a different band or following a different timeline. This can make it harder to coordinate the rollout of technologies or jointly develop solutions. In simple terms, the two countries may not be moving at the same pace when it comes to making the required spectrum available.
Equipment certification standards between TRAI and Anatel: Telecom equipment, such as network equipment, antennas and other devices, has to meet regulatory and technical requirements before operators can use it. India has its own telecom regulatory framework, while Brazil has its own framework, overseen by Anatel. If equipment developed or tested through the partnership meets India’s requirements but not Brazil’s, it may need additional testing or certification before being deployed there. A piece of telecom equipment approved for use in one country may not automatically be approved in the other.
Logistical distance separating South Asia from South America: India and Brazil are geographically very far apart. This matters because cooperation isn’t only about signing an agreement. It can involve transporting equipment between the countries, sending technical teams and researchers, conducting joint trials, and coordinating installations and testing. The distance can therefore make collaboration more expensive, slower and harder to coordinate.
Inertia of existing procurement contracts: Existing telecom operators already have contracts with large international equipment suppliers. Even if India and Brazil develop a new technology through this MoU, operators cannot necessarily switch immediately to that technology because they already have contracts with existing vendors, their networks are already built around those vendors’ equipment, and replacing existing infrastructure can be expensive and disruptive. So there may be resistance to changing suppliers or technologies quickly.
Institutional scaffold rather than a set of guaranteed outcomes: The MoU provides the framework and mechanisms for cooperation, such as opportunities for joint research, technology development, testing and knowledge sharing. But it doesn’t guarantee that these things will actually produce successful 5G/6G deployments, commercial adoption, new telecom equipment or large-scale technology transfers.

Way Forward

The next phase should focus on translating the broad framework of the India–Brazil ICT MoU into measurable outcomes. The immediate priority should be the preparation of a joint work plan and identification of nodal agencies on both sides, followed by the selection of a limited number of practical areas for implementation. The MoU provides for cooperation through exchanges of information and best practices, joint research and studies, conferences and seminars, capacity building and training, including in spectrum management, telecom standards and testing, infrastructure security, secure networks, fraud prevention and digital skilling.

Particular attention should be given to areas where both countries have existing capabilities and complementary interests, including 5G and 6G, Open RAN, cybersecurity, satellite and non-terrestrial connectivity, and Digital Public Infrastructure. Rather than treating these as broad areas of dialogue, cooperation should progressively lead to technical exchanges, research partnerships, interoperability testing, capacity-building initiatives and, where appropriate, pilot projects. The existing BRICS ICT framework can provide an additional platform for India and Brazil to exchange experience and coordinate on emerging digital technologies and standards.

Progress should also be assessed through a small set of measurable indicators. These could include (i) the number of joint pilot projects launched or completed; (ii) the number of joint research, technology-development or technology-transfer initiatives involving government, industry and research institutions; and (iii) the number of joint capacity-building programmes, technical workshops and exchanges, along with participation from both countries. Tracking these indicators would help distinguish sustained policy dialogue from actual implementation.

Ultimately, the value of the MoU will depend less on the number of meetings held than on whether it produces institutional partnerships, technical collaboration and deployable digital solutions. A phased approach beginning with the joint work plan and technical exchanges, moving towards research and interoperability initiatives, and eventually developing scalable projects would provide a practical route from bilateral dialogue to tangible digital cooperation.

References

NITI Aayog. (n.d.). Role of digital infrastructure in socio-economic development. NITI Aayog

Press Information Bureau. (2026). India-Brazil sign MoU to deepen cooperation in telecommunications and ICTs on sidelines of BRICS ICT Track meeting. Government of India. Press Information Bureau

DD India. (2026, August). India-Brazil sign MoU to strengthen cooperation in telecommunications and ICT. DD India

Dharmakshethra. (2026, August). India and Brazil sign ICT cooperation pact to deepen ties in 5G, 6G, AI and digital infrastructure. Dharmakshethra

Digital Watch Observatory. (2026). India and Brazil sign MoU on telecom and ICT. Digital Watch Observatory

Economic Diplomacy. (2026). India-Brazil telecom digital partnership. Economic Diplomacy

Indian Infrastructure. (2026, August 24). India and Brazil ink pact to strengthen bilateral cooperation in telecommunications and ICTs. Indian Infrastructure

Labs Tech Adyant. (2026). India-Brazil telecommunications & ICT cooperation MoU. Labs Tech Adyant

Prasar Bharati News Services. (2026). India-Brazil sign MoU to deepen cooperation in telecommunications & ICTs on sidelines of BRICS ICT Track meeting. News On AIR

ChartForest. (2026). India-Brazil sign MoU: Telecom & digital technologies. ChartForest

About the Contributor

Mannat Abbot is pursuing a B.A. (Hons.) in Economics at the College of Vocational Studies, University of Delhi, and serves as a Research & Editorial Intern at IMPRI. Her interests include public policy, economics, macroeconomics, economic policy, and evidence-based policymaking, with a particular focus on research and data-driven analysis.

Acknowledgements

The author sincerely acknowledges the guidance and constructive feedback provided by Khushi and Prisha Sachdeva throughout the preparation of this article. Their valuable suggestions and thoughtful observations contributed to strengthening the analysis, improving the organisation of ideas, and enhancing the overall quality of the manuscript.

Disclaimer

The views and interpretations expressed in this article are those of the author. Any remaining errors or omissions are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the reviewers or IMPRI.