India’s telecom sector is staring at a widening talent gap, with only 40% of computer science, IT, and math graduates considered job-ready for industry roles, according to the Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC). The council warns that the shortfall in skills, particularly across emerging domains like 5G, cloud computing, IoT, and AI, could intensify in the coming years unless urgent measures are taken to realign education with industry needs.
To address this challenge, TSSC has announced a strategic collaboration with the India Didactics Association (IDA) as part of DIDAC Skills 2025, Asia’s first exhibition and conference focused exclusively on skilling. The partnership aims to strengthen India’s telecom talent pipeline through targeted reskilling, industry engagement, and workforce development initiatives.
Gaurav Sood, CEO and Managing Director, Messe Stuttgart India, the organizer of the event, said, “DIDAC Skills 2025 is designed to be a transformative catalyst for India’s skilling landscape. By partnering with TSSC, we are strengthening our commitment to fostering industry-ready talent and creating new avenues for collaboration in the telecom sector.”
DIDAC Skills 2025, organized by Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH & Co. KG and IDA, will be held from November 18–20, 2025, at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention & Expo Centre), Delhi. Co-located with Didac India 2025, Asia’s largest education exhibition, the event will bring together policymakers, educators, industry leaders, and employers to address India’s workforce challenges.
The platform will feature hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, industry-led challenges, and skill competitions, offering participants real-world exposure to emerging technologies and workplace demands.
Aditya Gupta, CEO of India Didactics Association, said, “Our collaboration with TSSC marks a crucial step toward bridging India’s telecom skill gap with real-world, industry-driven learning. Together, we are aligning education, technology, and opportunity to empower India’s youth to lead the next wave of digital innovation.”
Established by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), TSSC serves as the apex body for telecom skilling in India. It works closely with ministries, industry players, and educational institutions to build a future-ready workforce.
With members including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, TSSC’s mission is to ensure a steady supply of skilled manpower for the telecom and digital sectors, which are seen as vital to India’s ambition of becoming a global leader in next-generation connectivity and digital services.
Through its participation at DIDAC Skills 2025, TSSC plans to showcase innovative training models and skilling resources, facilitate dialogue between employers and training providers, and promote scalable solutions for telecom talent development.
The initiative, industry experts say, could play a pivotal role in bridging the country’s telecom skill gap and preparing millions of young Indians for the digital economy.
