Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 7th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) on Friday (October 27). The three-day event is likely to see footfalls in excess of 1,00,000 and will feature over 1,400 delegates and 400 startups.
As we look back at Day 1 of the IMC, here’s a look at the biggest takeaways —
1. 5G Rollout
– The PM took note of the fastest 5G rollout in the world, which surprised the world of telecom across the globe. PM Modi had launched 5G in India in the previous edition of the IMC in October, 2022. In his inaugural address, he noted how the 5G network in the country saw 4 lakh 5G base stations, covering 97% of cities and 80% of population.
Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, Akash Ambani, cited how Jio had rolled out 5G faster than its own timeline, deploying a 5G cell every 10 seconds. He cited how the Jio network accounted for 85% of 5G capacity in the country. Chief of another major telecom company, Sunil Bharti Mittal, assured that Airtel was committed to completing the rollout by March of 2024.
2. Vodafone Idea 5G Rollout– Speaking in the inaugural session, Kumar Mangalam Birla, assured that Vodafone Idea is focused on developing the core network for 5G rollout. He claimed that Vodafone Idea would be making “significant investments” for 5G rollout. However, no timeline is shared for 5G rollout.
3. Focus on 6G– Looking ahead, the PM has thrown the gauntlet on India taking the lead in 6G. The PM noted that he was confident that India will take the lead in 6G. On the same issue, the Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also announced that India was working closely with the ITU, where India can look to take the lead in standard setting.
4. Space Based Communication– The IMC saw the unveiling of space-based communication technologies. Jio’s pavilion, in the exhibition halls, was the first to host the PM. Akash Ambani showcased India’s first satellite-based fibre service – Jio SpaceFibre. With potential speed pegged at 1 Gbps, Jio is aiming to bring high speed internet to unconnected homes. Jio is aiming to make Jio SpaceFiber across the country at affordable rates.
Sunil Mittal also made a reference to space-based connectivity through the OneWeb Constellation of LEO satellites. He claimed that this constellation can be used to connect remote and inaccessible regions. He further claimed that the service would become available from next month.
5. Cybersecurity– PM used the IMC to lay emphasis on the need for cybersecurity. He recalled how the G20 leaders, hosted in the same Bharat Mandapam, had “serious conversations” on the issue of securing digital networks. He also stressed on the need for Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in developing cybersecurity solutions. He called on the delegates to initiate dialogue on securing networks from cyber threats.
(Edited by : Sangam Singh)
First Published: Oct 27, 2023 10:21 PM IST
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