Bharat 5G Portal

Bharat 5G Portal

GS-III: Science and Technology, Indian Economy

(UPSC/State PSC)

Important for Prelims:

Bharat 5G Portal, Bharat Telecom 2024– An Exclusive International Business Expo’, 5-G Use Case Labs, Quantum, Intellectual Property Right (IPR), 5-G and 6-G, Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), BharatNet Project, Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON), Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme, DoT.

Important for Mains:

About Bharat 5G Portal, Significance,”5G” India Status, Difference between 5G and 6G, Government Initiatives, Challenges Faced by the IndianTelecom Sector, Way forward, Conclusion.

February 05, 2024

Why in news:

Recently, Digital Communications Commission, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Ministry of Communications (MoC) launched “Bharat 5G Portal – An Integrated Portal” on the occasion of ‘Bharat Telecom 2024 – An Exclusive International Business Expo’.

  • The expo was organized by the Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications from January 29-30, 2024 in New Delhi.
  • The expo was titled 'Bridging Dreams and Funding: Connecting Venture Capital/Investors with the Future of Startups'.
  • More than 10 investors and capitalists participated in this meeting.
  • During this expo, 26 startup companies showcased their telecom products.

About Bharat 5G Portal:

  • It is an integrated portal which is a comprehensive platform serving the interests of startups, industry and academia in the Quantum, 6-G, Intellectual Property Right (IPR) and 5-G space.
  • This portal is connected through a digital network of more than 100 5-G laboratories/institutions.
  • It serves as a knowledge dissemination platform for institutes/students/start-ups where 5-G use cases are being tested/developed.
  • The objective of this portal is to promote India's 5G capabilities, drive innovation, collaboration and knowledge sharing within the telecom sector.

Significance:

  • Bharat 5G Portal serves as a one-stop solution for all Quantum, IPR, 5-G and 6-G related work, enhancing academic R&D, industry standards, OEMs, startups/micro, Involves small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and subject matter experts. It aims to boost India's 5-G capabilities, provide impetus to innovation, collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the telecom sector.
  • This also includes the Future Tech-Experts Registration Portal in collaboration with PANIIT USA, which aims to provide mentorship and support to the Indian telecom ecosystem in furthering the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
  • Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi awarded 100 "5-G Use Case Labs" to educational institutions across the country to build proficiency and engagement in 5-G technologies for students and start-up communities during the inaugural ceremony of the India Mobile Congress.

About 5G Use Cases Labs programe:

  • This initiative aims to foster expertise and active participation in 5G and subsequent technologies among students, educators, researchers, and the startup ecosystem.
  • 5G Use Cases Labs programmme will be overseen by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India.
  • Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) is an implementation agency for installation of 100 Labs and portal development.

“5G” India Status:

  • India's 5-G rollout is the fastest in the world and currently, India is moving towards 6-G.
  • India has the second largest telecom network in the world and has 'surprised' the world with the development of indigenous 4-G/5-G technologies in a very short period of time.
  • There are one lakh startups in India today and this is a big opportunity for countries to collaborate with India.
  • The world has realized that India is a reliable partner and everyone now wants to cooperate with India whether it is about 5-G or 6-G technology.

Digital Connectivity in India:

  • India is recognized as the most connected democracy worldwide.
  • Each day, 70 million e-authentications and over 8 billion UPI transactions are conducted monthly through the Unified Payment Interface.
  • The government has facilitated direct benefit transfers, sending over ~28 lakh crore directly to citizens.

Difference between 5G and 6G:

Aspect

5G

6G

Speed

Up to 10 Gbps

Up to 1 Tbps

Latency

Low latency (10 ms)

Ultra-low latency (<1 ms)

Spectrum (Major Frequency bands)

24 GHz to 100 GHz

95 GHz to 3 THz (Terahartz) can operate on a higher frequency than 5G

Use Cases

Accelerate adoption of cloud gaming, AV/VR technology, Internet of Things, etc.

Support high-performance computing, Remote-controlled factories, self-driven cars, smart wearables

Connectivity

Connecting billions of devices

Connectivity between virtual and physical world

Government Initiatives:

  • BharatNet Project: It seeks to provide connectivity to 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) through optical fibre. It is implemented by Bharat Broadband Network Ltd. (BBNL).
  • The National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) was launched in October 2011 and was renamed as Bharat Net Project in 2015.
  • Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON): Under it, Kerala government provides internet connections free of cost to 20 lakh below poverty line (BPL) families.
  • Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme: It was launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) in 2022.

Challenges Faced by the IndianTelecom Sector:

  • Financial Struggles: The sector is grappling with poor financial health, including declining gross revenue. Gross revenue has dropped by 15% to 20% for the year 2017-18 over the preceding year for the incumbents and overall sector revenue has dropped.
  • Spectrum Scarcity: The availability of spectrum is limited, and the delayed allocation of spectrum for 5G technology has hindered sector growth. Available spectrum is less than 40% as compared to European nations and 50% as compared to China.
  • Insufficient Fixed-Line Penetration: The Indian network does not have very much fixed-line coverage, while most developed countries have a high penetration of fixed lines (telephone lines connected to a nationwide telephone network via metal wires or optical fibres).
  • There are fewer than 25% of towers in India connected to fibre networks, compared to more than 70% in developed nations.
  • Intense Competition and Tariff Wars: The entry of Reliance Jio has sparked intense competition among telecom operators, leading to tariff wars and reduced profit margins. This financial strain has delayed further investments in the sector.
  • Inadequate Telecom Infrastructure in Semi-rural and Rural Areas: The lack of infrastructure, including issues related to power supply, poses challenges for service providers. In India, adequate tele density has been achieved, but there is a large discrepancy between penetration in urban (55.42%) and rural (44.58%) areas.
  • Revenue Reduction from New Technologies: The emergence of various applications like WhatsApp, OLA, and Uber has diminished revenue for the telecom sector. These applications operate independently, without requiring partnerships with telecommunications companies.
  • High Licence Fees: The licence fee, including the Universal Service Levy (USL), stands at eight percent of the Adjusted Gross Revenue, making it one of the highest in the world.
  • Low Broadband Penetration: The low penetration of broadband services in the country is a cause for concern. As per International Telecommunication Union (ITU), broadband penetration in India is only 7%.

Way Forward:

  • Implement National Digital Communication Policy (NDCP): Prioritise the implementation of the NDCP, which emphasises the establishment of a National Digital Grid, collaborative mechanisms for rights of way, and removal of approval barriers.
  • State Governments’ Role: State governments should actively participate in setting up adequate telecom infrastructure to support the objectives of the NDCP. They should collaborate with central authorities and private stakeholders to expand connectivity in rural areas.
  • Improve Rural Connectivity: Increase optical fibre and fixed-line penetration in rural areas to bridge the digital divide.
  • Facilitate Entry and Exit of New Players: Create a favourable environment for the entry and exit of new players in the telecom sector. This will encourage competition, innovation, and investment, leading to improved services and affordability for consumers.
  • Reduce Licence Fee: Lower the licence fee, which is currently one of the highest in the world, to alleviate financial burdens on telecom operators.
  • Sharing of Infrastructure: Sharing telecom infrastructure allows operators to optimise their capital expenditure (capex) as a significant portion, around 40% to 60%, is typically used for setting up and managing infrastructure.

Conclusion:

  • Initiatives related to 5-G and 6-G are a testament to India's commitment towards technological advancement and development of the telecom industry and are likely to play a significant role in shaping the future of telecommunications in the country.
  • India remains the third largest tech start-up ecosystem globally, we need to create new business opportunities for Indian manufacturers by encouraging participation of more start-ups.

Source: PIB

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Mains Question:

Discuss the India 5-G portal and its significance. Write the clear difference between 5G and 6G.

Highlight the major initiatives of the Government of India in communication technology and discuss the challenges and the way forward.