- 1989-Batch ITS Officer to steer Gujarat LSA’s 5G rollout, BharatNet Push
- From MEA to BSNL to DoT HQ, three-decade career anchors strategic leadership
- Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu under Unified Telecom Oversight
- Focus on 6G, IoT, cyber fraud control and digital inclusion
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, MAR 4
S Ajith Kumar, a distinguished officer of the 1989 batch of the Indian Telecommunication Service (ITS), has assumed charge as Additional Director General (Telecom) of the Gujarat Licensed Service Area (LSA), under the Department of Telecommunications.
With over three decades of experience across regulatory, operational and international assignments, Ajith Kumar steps into a critical leadership role at a time when Gujarat is accelerating its digital infrastructure expansion and telecom innovation roadmap.
Prior to this appointment, he served as Deputy Director General for the Karnataka LSA. His career portfolio spans high-impact roles across ministries and public sector telecom institutions.
A Career Across Policy, Diplomacy and Telecom Operations
Ajith Kumar’s assignments include:
- Ministry of External Affairs: Served as Director and Protector of Emigrants in Chennai from 2014 to 2018 under the Ministry of External Affairs, handling sensitive migration and welfare issues.
- DoT Headquarters, New Delhi: Held the position of DDG at the central office of the Department of Telecommunications.
- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited: Served as Additional General Manager at BBNW, Bengaluru, and earlier as Area Manager in Ernakulam and Thodupuzha at Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited.
- Academic Credentials: Completed the Certificate Programme in Public Policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, in 2018.
Strategic Role of Gujarat LSA
The Gujarat LSA, headquartered in Ahmedabad, is a key field unit of the DoT and oversees telecommunications across Gujarat and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Its core responsibilities include:
- Network Security & Compliance: Monitoring Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and ISPs to ensure adherence to licensing conditions and national security protocols.
- Digital Infrastructure Expansion: Overseeing the rollout of 5G services, the BharatNet project, and the PM-WANI Wi-Fi ecosystem.
- Public Safety & Welfare: Regulating EMF radiation norms and managing the “Call Before You Dig” (CBUD) initiative to safeguard underground telecom assets.
- Citizen Services: Handling public grievances through CPGRAMS and strengthening telecom connectivity in rural and coastal belts.
- Innovation & Future Technologies: Promoting 5G use case labs and advancing readiness for 6G and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
- Cyber Fraud & Spam Control: Leveraging platforms like Sanchar Saathi to curb telecom misuse and digital fraud.
Digital Gujarat: The Road Ahead
Under Ajith Kumar’s leadership, the Gujarat LSA is expected to sharpen its focus on secure digital infrastructure, next-generation connectivity and cyber resilience. With Gujarat emerging as a major industrial and technology hub, telecom governance will play a central role in enabling Industry 4.0, smart cities and inclusive digital access.
The appointment signals continuity in regulatory vigilance and a renewed push towards future-ready telecom ecosystems, positioning Gujarat at the forefront of India’s evolving digital economy.
