Chandan Kumar brings over 30 years of experience in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, spanning system engineering, business development, sales and solution strategy. He currently heads the India Business Centre for Optical Transport at Nokia Solutions, where he is responsible for business development, profit and loss management, strategic deals and CXO-level engagements across communication service providers, hyperscalers, subsea operators and PSUs enterprises. His role also includes shaping market strategy, driving product positioning and advancing the adoption of next-generation innovations such as coherent optics (PSE6), data centre interconnect and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven automation. Prior to joining Nokia, he held senior leadership roles at Huawei, Nortel and HFCL.
He sees three major shifts reshaping the telecom sector: the rise of AI-driven autonomous networks, the convergence of telecom and cloud, and the expansion of fibre and 5G to power Industry 4.0. With the growing demand for networks that are scalable, predictive and secure, Kumar views optical transport as the invisible backbone that will carry AI workloads, cloud traffic and immersive consumer experiences. He notes, “In India, rapid subscriber growth, combined with affordability, brings both opportunity and operational pressure, reinforcing the need for intelligent networks to sustain the country’s digital future.”
What motivates him is being part of India’s digital transformation journey, knowing that the networks he helps build quietly power cloud, AI and broadband experiences for millions of people every day. His goal is clear: to ensure India’s networks are future-ready and capable of supporting the next wave of digital applications.
Kumar focuses on setting clear goals, empowering teams to make decisions and fostering a culture of accountability and innovation. His strengths lie in clarity of vision, deep domain expertise and building high-performing teams, reinforced by transparent communication and strong CXO-level relationships. He admits, “One area I continuously work on is balancing my technical curiosity with delegation. I sometimes get deeply engaged in details when stepping back could allow my teams to move faster.”
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering and a postgraduate diploma in Business Administration. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling, staying active and mentoring young professionals. He lives in India with his wife; their son, who works as a telecom engineer; and their daughter, who aspires to pursue MBBS.