The Global Confluence Of Telecom And Technology In India To Empower Future
There’s a frequently quoted adage that says, “Technology is best when it brings people together.” Nowhere is this more evident than in our country, Bharat. The largest democracy and the largest telecom market in the world, India has consistently leapfrogged in technology, showcasing the power of connectivity and innovation, especially over the last decade.
Over the past decade, the telecommunications sector has spurred revolutionary changes with the support from government, as evident in enhancing three crucial areas: digital infrastructure, policy reforms and domestic capabilities. These three components together help propel the country’s digital future, enabling us to harness our domestic talent and showcase our potential at global level.
The internet penetration in India has grown significantly within this decade, increasing from 14% in 2014 to 67% today, with 93 million users across the country. Our country is slowly catching up to the global digital and technology ecosystem. Creation of 5G intelligent villages are a significant milestone, emphasizing the role of technology as an enabler and facilitator of sustainable digital economies. Amidst these success stories, some of the major reform have helped India empower the digital ecosystem through modern and robust policies. The establishment of 100 5G case labs is another testimony to promote innovation and competencies among domestic startup communities helping lead India’s future.
Our Hon’ble Telecom Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia recently stated, “India followed the world in 4G, is marching with the world in 5G, and will lead the world in 6G.” Yes, we are moving towards pioneering 6G technology and setting new benchmarks in the telecommunications industry.
India’s Global Leadership in 6G
Last year, the ITU also adopted Resolution 65 to guide the development of a 6G standard, which was a theme of focus at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) in Dubai. As a follow-up to this, the ITU also decided to host the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly at New Delhi in 2024. The event will concur with the India Mobile Congress (IMC) in October 2024. The IMC has established itself as a global forum and Asia’s largest tech event to showcase the emerging technologies. Both these events portray the emergence of India as the destination for technology innovations, discussions, research and collaboration. With a focus on unique 6G use case demonstrations, these events will provide compelling platforms for global engagement for 6G this year.
By establishing strategic international partnerships and collaborations, India is taking steps in building a world-class telecom ecosystem. These efforts are aimed at supporting the development of globally harmonized standards for beyond 5G and 6G and in promoting cooperation among R&D organizations and industries with India. Initiatives are being taken for collaboration between Indian industry, academia, national research institutions, and standards organizations, with various countries. These strategic partnerships prove India’s determination and vision towards empowering the society through sustainable and advanced telecommunications while contributing to the global 6G ecosystem in future.
Startups-Academia Collaborations driving innovation in Telecom Industry
Telecom is a vital sector for India, estimated to contribute about 6.5% to the country’s GDP and is helping drive the digitalization across industries. The start-up ecosystem is hailed as the backbone of Indian economy and has helped elevate the prestige of the country in the global front through astonishing innovations and contributions across sectors. Now, it’s the opportunity for the industry participants, academia and the government to collaborate and harness the full potential of the ecosystem and foster a sustainable economy.
The on-going developments in 6G standardization proves that Indian start-ups, MSMEs and academia can play a major role in the development of 6G. India has already acquired over 120 global patents in 6G technologies, thanks to the innovative brains of these participants, a unique advantage that positions our country as a key player in the global technology landscape.
The confluence of IMC 2024 and WTSA 2024 forums – a domestic and an international – offers excellent opportunities to forge partnerships and foster innovation. We anticipate India to become the center of such events in the years to come, and I am glad that telecom sector has taken the first strides in facilitating such an environment on a global scale. This year, IMC will showcase over 400 exhibitors, over 900 startups, with attendees from across 120 countries. IMC 2024 along with WTSA will help India become a platform to take the lead in 6G standardization. IMC aims to become global and much bigger than it is today in the coming years. The event will provide opportunities and platform for global discussions on topics like AI for Good, Robotics, Cybersecurity, Quantum, Electronics manufacturing, Semiconductors among others and offer collaborations, with hundreds of brainstorming sessions by industry experts on a wide range of topics covering the various facets of telecom industry.
Writer: Ramakrishna P, CEO, India Mobile Congress
