Anushruti Singh
During the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) on October 29, 2023, Professor Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), highlighted India’s potential in the mobile network technologies. With the deployment of indigenous 5G technology and a collaborative effort involving researchers, academia, industry players, and start-ups, India is poised to become a global leader in mobile network technology.
Professor Karandikar emphasised the unique opportunity India has in steering the standardisation of 6G technology. He envisioned India playing a pivotal role in shaping 6G research and standards, building upon the transformative shift from 2G and 3G to the upcoming 6G, which is expected to be a game changer.
India’s substantial contribution to the exponential growth of global data volume, largely due to mobile communication, was also discussed. By 2030, India’s share of the global mobile communication data is expected to reach one-third or more. The diverse Indian landscape, featuring varying data rates, latency requirements, and a range of access devices, presents an ideal testing ground for cellular mobile communications, including Wi-Fi, drones, satellites, terrestrial networks, sensors, and IoT applications.
However, Professor Karandikar acknowledged that substantial research and standardisation work remains. Addressing scalability challenges in the core network is a critical aspect, along with developing efficient heterogeneous radio access technologies to accommodate large data volumes. He emphasised that the Department of Science and Technology, through initiatives like the National Mission for Cyber Physical Systems (NMICPS), can support research in these areas. Furthermore, these technological advancements can extend beyond basic telecommunication, encompassing sectors like agriculture, health, transportation, logistics, and more.
In addition to his discussions at the IMC, Professor Karandikar visited stalls showcasing technology innovations under the NMICPS. Dignitaries from the government, academia, and the industry also participated in various sessions during the three-day IMC, focusing on mobile network technologies, standardisation, future prospects, and related issues.
