During the widespread pandemic that plagued 2020, what kept people connected was technology services and telecom networks.
Despite the general lockdown in most countries and the halt of economic activities, education, healthcare, information as well as entertainment was accessible to people through the internet. If not for the high-speed telecom services, the global economy would have been in shambles. Industry experts claim this has led to the goal of the revival of India’s telecom sector, as well as the introduction of future technologies faster.
Earlier this month, K Ramchand, Member (Technology), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) stated that 5G spectrum bands would soon be announced for auction. This indicates that the adoption of 5G is a priority of the government. A lot of the Indian telecom service providers do not possess the financial power to build a 5G system, but the government has shown interest in beginning the process.
‘5G technology is poised to open up a plethora of possibilities in terms of business models, and overall, enhances lifestyles for one and all. We seek the support of the government in enabling the industry to play its role as an enabler of horizontal growth and a boost to the nation’s economy. The 5G potential is immense and can turn the game for India and be a catalyst for the government’s campaigns such as Make in India, Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat’, says Lt. Gen Dr. S.P. Kochhar, Director General, COAI.
Enterprises can grow faster by collaborating with players with emphasis on technical skills and finding solutions to increase efficiency and building networks that are future-ready. According to Karthik Natarajan, President and COO, Cyient, ‘We are seeing significant investments in the communication network space. The current digital transformation will lead to enhanced user experience, increased operational efficiency and a competitive edge for the enterprise businesses. Our experience in design, delivery, deployment, migration and support of network infrastructure globally makes us an ideal partner for 5G rollouts’.
Over the recent years, a lot of global technology firms have set up a manufacturing base in India. Recently, Samsung got the approval of the Uttar Pradesh government to make OLED at its Noida factory. Although investments like this are important, investments in R&D, semiconductors and future technology require a lot of incentives. The main issue India faces in the manufacturing of electronics is the lack of a world-class semiconductor fabricating unit (FAB). The time has come for the government to either convince global players to invest in a FAB in India or initiate the work of building a domestic one.
‘2020 has set the stage for 5G to go mainstream and in 2021, this will also lead to an increase in demand for next-gen 5G smartphones, newer applications and smart devices like smart TVs, tablets, phones integrated with voice interface etc.’, Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India says.
It’s going to be fascinating to watch how India can attract investments in future technologies as 5G is shifting the TMT industry and presenting a large range of economic chances in the next 3-5 years.
By Marvellous Iwendi.
Source: Business Standard