Mannepalli, also a member of the ITU Radio Regulations Board, will be contesting against two European candidates: Eric Fournier of France and Alexander Kuhn of Germany.

In November, Doha, the capital of Qatar, will host the next Plenipotentiary Conference, the ITU's highest policy-making body, to elect the UN agency's leadership for a four-year term from 2027 to 2030. If elected, Mannepalli will become the first woman director and also the first person from the Asia, Australasia and Africa regions to be elected as director of the BR.

“We have a fair chance of winning this time,” Mannepalli said in response to Mint’s questions during a vote appeal address to the Commonwealth member countries at an event by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) on 26 August.

“32 years back, the BR director position was created, but it never came to region 3 (Asia-Pacific). If you look at the diversity of the countries in region 3, we have island nations and landlocked countries. We have developing nations. I think this is the right time for it to come to region 3,” Mannepalli said, adding that there is plenty of opportunity.

The BR governs and regulates the international use of radio-frequency spectrum, covering mobile networks, satellite constellations and orbital slots, as well as aviation and scientific research. The post is particularly crucial as satellite filings with the ITU reach record levels, intensifying coordination challenges and complaints over frequency interference.

Two candidates from European nations—France and Germany—could split the vote and reduce Europe’s chances of winning against India’s candidate, according to a March report by online news platform Geneva Solutions. Analysts add that if one of the European candidates steps down, then it would be a good competition for the post between Europe and India.

Countries have recognized Mannepalli’s profile, which includes 30 years of experience in spectrum management and international arbitration, as well as expertise in satellite communications and frequency management. Even Pakistan has expressed interest in backing Mannepalli for the position.

“We made it very clear, I gave a black and white answer, no grey answers. Dr Revathi is the best candidate for the job. Pakistan has no problem,” Muhammad Amir Malik, member (international coordination) at the ministry of IT and telecommunication, Pakistan, said in response to Mint’s questions at the CTO event.

“Again, it is about collaboration among member states. If we are at this forum, India and Pakistan are partners, so they can be partners at every forum,” Malik said, adding that Pakistan also has no problem in supporting India for re-election to the ITU council seat.

David Wills, group head of spectrum at the UK’s regulator Office of Communications (Ofcom), told Mint, “I think everybody was really happy to see, not just an Indian candidate, a female candidate as well… Other regions, from talking to them, look very positively on there being a candidate from India."

There is a lot of stuff that goes into ITU elections, and there are a lot of discussions with different regions to ensure there's good regional balance, according to Wills. “I think there are actually concerns that there are two European candidates. Whereas you might end up with a much more unified European vote, I think you may have some split,” he said, adding that India has been really active in all the standards and is also recognized as becoming significantly more active at ITU-R (radiocommunication).

Ensuring a balanced approach to innovation, protection from harmful interference, and the sustainability of spectrum, as well as promoting consistent, transparent, and timely application of technology alongside the required regulations, are among Mannepalli's key priorities if elected.

Supporting equitable access to spectrum and satellite orbital resources, with particular attention to the needs of developing and least developed countries, such as inclusive digital growth, will also be one of her focus areas.

India’s pitch for equitable access to orbital slots is also crucial, as telecom operator Jio has begun deploying its own low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite network. Satellite systems use internationally coordinated radio-frequency spectrum and orbital resources. The same also means that operators entering later will have to adjust to orbital slots, including frequency interference with incumbent operators, thereby increasing the risks of dominance of a few early entrants, such as Starlink, in the segment.

“Though much of the work (related to orbital slots access) has not happened there, because we especially have challenges when we take up with NGSO (non-geostationary satellite orbit) constellations,” Mannepalli said.

“Probably now the situations are coming up, you can think of changing with the BAU (business as usual) timelines or have a regional system instead of going for every country having an orbital slot, it's not possible with NGSO constellations,” she said, adding that there are thought processes already going on, and she will be focusing much on that.

In 1960, India's Manohar Balaji Sarwate first held the post of ITU deputy secretary-general for five years. Sarwate was subsequently elected secretary-general of ITU in 1965. After that, India fielded a few candidates for the top positions but could not secure them. However, India holds key positions on the ITU Radio Regulations Board, the Digital Innovation Board, and the Council's working groups and expert groups.

Besides electing the secretary-general, deputy secretary-general and directors of the three bureaus—the Radiocommunication Bureau (BR), Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) and Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)—the Doha conference will elect 48 member states to the next ITU Council and 12 members to the Radio Regulations Board (RRB). Pakistan, like India, is also seeking election to the next ITU Council.