HCLTech Eyes Massive Play in AI-Native Networks and Sovereign Tech
HCLTech executives reveal massive opportunities in AI-native architecture, sovereign networks, and enterprise modernisation at India Mobile Congress 2026.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly rewriting the rules for telecommunications and enterprise landscapes in India. From a shift toward AI-native architecture to the rise of sovereign networks, the technological landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, according to senior leadership at HCLTech.
Speaking on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress 2026, HCLTech executives highlighted that the massive need for enterprise network refreshes and new AI data center fabrics presents a golden era of opportunity. These shifts are expected to fundamentally alter how telecom operators monetize bandwidth.
A Radical Shift in Bandwidth Monetization
Gurpreet Kohli, Executive Vice President and Global Business Head for Telco and Enterprise Networks at HCLTech, noted that enterprise demand is accelerating at a sharp pace within the domestic market. He suggested that the traditional models used by telecom companies are about to face a radical change.
"What I see here is there is a lot of opportunity which is coming ourway as far as the network refresh is concerned on the enterprise side of the house mainly," Kohli stated. He emphasized that telecommunications providers will play a pivotal role as their entire bandwidth monetization strategy undergoes a transformation.
Having successfully managed enterprise customers for global giants like Verizon, HCLTech is now actively seeking similar high-stakes collaborations with Indian telecom service providers. The company is also focusing on localized solutions, such as its partnership with Sarvam, to deliver AI deployments that are specifically curated and contextualized for the Indian market.
From Silicon to Services: The AI Expansion
The company's ambitions extend beyond software. Kohli indicated that the value unleashed by these AI advancements will flow into several critical sectors, including:
- Public sector and government services
- Engineering services
- Semiconductor business (moving from silicon to full-scale services)
Moving Beyond the Cloud to Agentic AI
The industry is witnessing a strategic pivot away from legacy cloud-dependent setups. Instead, there is a growing movement toward embedded, agentic AI frameworks and sovereign infrastructure.
Sumithra Ranganathan, Senior Vice President of Global Delivery, ERS, at HCLTech, explained that the transition from 5G to 6G necessitates an AI-native approach. This evolution requires robust human-machine interfaces and strict operational guardrails to function effectively.
"Gone are the days when we put things in the Cloud, make things happen in the cloud, edge computing and things like that," Ranganathan remarked. "But now, what is more prevalent and more the need of the hour is making it more AI-native, which makes it more agentic in nature."
Addressing the Ethics of Autonomous AI
As enterprises move toward autonomous models, concerns regarding data sovereignty, cybersecurity, and "misbehaving" AI have come to the forefront. Ranganathan stressed that the responsibility lies with technology professionals to implement rigorous ethical safeguards.
Addressing instances where AI models have failed or behaved unpredictably, she noted:
"It's on us when we transform or adapt as a world to move towards AI transformation... the onus is on each and every one of us as technology experts or professionals to make sure that right guardrails are put and checked."
As companies transition from on-premise environments to these new architectures, Ranganathan highlighted that data privacy remains the primary concern for enterprise clients. This necessitates standardized vulnerability assessments and highly rigorous security systems across all new deployments.