One year after introducing India’s official 5G services, Prime Minister Narendra Modi graced the stage at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023, reflecting on the government’s commitment to making technology accessible to all. IMC’s theme for this year, ‘Global Digital Innovation,’ mirrors India’s proactive stance in embracing emerging technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), Cloud, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The fifth-generation wireless (5G) technology is the latest advancement in cellular networks, engineered to enhance wireless network speeds.
“In this era of rapid technological advancement, the future is already upon us. India’s 5G rollout is one of the swiftest globally, and we don’t intend to halt there; our goal is to bring 5G to every household. In just one year, we’ve established 4 lakh 5G base stations, covering roughly 80% of the population. Mobile broadband speed has tripled during this time, and we aspire to lead the world in 6G technology. In this era of technological innovation, startups play a pivotal role, as India is among the top three global startup ecosystems,” emphasized Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India is democratizing technology, and the telecom sector is the gateway to Digital India. “India is acknowledged for its swift 5G rollout with affordable data rates, establishing itself as a leader, developer, and exporter in the telecommunications arena,” remarked Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology, and Railways.
India’s digital public infrastructure has received global acclaim. Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio, echoed this sentiment by stating, “Reliance Jio is deploying a 5G cell every 10 seconds, covering up to 85% of the country’s 5G rollout. With our in-house expertise, we aim to bridge the digital divide in India and position the country as the world’s broadband capital.”
The pillars of IMC are Digital India and Make in India. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairperson of Bharti Enterprises, shared, “Empowering citizens with tools can help us transcend boundaries. India is emerging as a digital leader and a manufacturing hub. In line with our commitment, Airtel has already extended 5G coverage to 5,000 towns and 20,000 villages. By March 2024, our goal is to encompass the entire nation.”
Marking a significant leap in the telecommunications sector, India has garnered over 200 patents in 6G technology. This revelation came during the launch of the Bharat 6G Alliance in New Delhi. The Department of Telecommunications established a Technology Innovation Group on 6G (TIG-6G) on November 1, 2021, comprising members from various ministries, research institutions, academia, standardization bodies, telecom service providers, and the industry. The group is tasked with formulating a vision, mission, and objectives for 6G technology in India, in addition to crafting a roadmap and action plans.
