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In a significant development towards advancing its technological capabilities, Dr Neeraj Mittal, Chairman of the Digital Communications Commission and Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), launched the “Bharat 5G Portal – an Integrated Portal” during the ‘Bharat Telecom 2024 – An Exclusive International Business Expo.’
The event, organised by the Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) in collaboration with DoT, showcased India’s commitment to the future of telecommunications. As part of the portal’s initiatives, the DoT announced a call for 6G research and development (R&D) proposals, emphasising accelerated research to foster the development of the 6G ecosystem.
Dr Mittal also inaugurated the Future Tech-Experts registration portal, a collaborative effort with PANIIT USA, marking a pivotal step to guide and support the Indian Telecom ecosystem. This initiative will be featured prominently on the Bharat 5G Portal.
A special session titled “Bridging Dreams and Funding: Linking Venture Capital/Investors to the Future of Startups” was inaugurated during the event, facilitating interactions between 26 startups/MSMEs and over 10 venture capitalists/investors. The startups presented their innovative telecom products, engaging in discussions on potential funding opportunities and collaboration for scalability.
Dr Neeraj Mittal expressed India’s remarkable progress in the 5G rollout, asserting that the country is already exploring the possibilities of 6G. India, with the second-largest telecom network globally, has astonished the world with the development of indigenous 4G/5G technologies in a short span. He emphasised India’s position as a trusted global partner, attracting collaborative interest in 5G and 6G technologies.
Highlighting India’s thriving startup ecosystem, Dr Mittal noted that the nation currently boasts one lakh startups, presenting a significant opportunity for international collaboration. He reiterated Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision to create new business opportunities for Indian manufacturers by encouraging greater startup participation.
The Bharat 5G Portal, designed to serve as a comprehensive platform, stems from the India Mobile Congress, where 100 “5G Use Case Labs” were awarded to educational institutions. These labs, connected through the Bharat 5G Portal, act as a knowledge dissemination platform for testing and developing 5G use cases.
Implemented by Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), the Bharat 5G Portal integrates quantum, 6G, intellectual property rights (IPR), and 5G domains. It serves as a one-stop solution capturing academic R&D developments, industry standards, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), startups/MSMEs, and subject matter experts.
The portal aims to propel India’s 5G capabilities, fostering innovation, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing within the telecom sector and act as a single-window solution for all quantum, IPR, PoCs/Pilots, 5G, and 6G-related works.
These initiatives underscore India’s commitment to technological advancement and the growth of the telecom industry, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of telecommunications in the country. The call for 6G R&D proposals and the collaborative efforts with startups and venture capitalists demonstrate India’s proactive approach to staying at the forefront of emerging technologies.
In line with India’s commitment to technological advancement in the telecommunications sector, the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), the technical wing of the Department of Telecommunications, has expanded the Simplified Certification Scheme (SCS) to encompass an additional 37 products from January 1, 2024.
OpenGov Asia reported that this extension aims to significantly reduce certification time to two weeks, enhancing efficiency and further streamlining business operations within the telecommunications industry.
Newly included products range from media gateways and IP security equipment to optical fibre or cable and transmission Terminal Equipment, reflecting a notable increase in SCS-covered products from twelve to forty-nine.
