DMCA.com Protection Status Unlocking India’s digital potential: The role of ROW in digital infrastructure development – Times of India – News Market

Unlocking India’s digital potential: The role of ROW in digital infrastructure development – Times of India

Unlocking India's digital potential: The role of ROW in digital infrastructure development - Times of India

[ad_1]

Broadband internet availability in India has sparked remarkable growth in key sectors. E-commerce surged to $65 billion in 2022, with an expected $182 billion valuation by 2025, creating jobs and fueling economic growth. Online education‘s worth reached $3.2 billion in 2022, projected to hit $10.4 billion by 2025, increasing accessibility and upskilling the workforce.Digital payments witnessed over 600 crore transactions in 2022, simplifying commerce and reducing cash usage. Additionally, the government’s online services, like passport applications and tax filing, improve accessibility and transparency while combatting corruption. India’sdigital infrastructure is driving multifaceted progress.
What do these developments say? They underscore the immense opportunities that India presents on multiple fronts. The trends highlight the wealth of untapped potential and a dynamic landscape for both domestic and international entities to explore and invest in the country.
Right of Way (ROW): The vital link in the digital revolution
Did you know that our country is now one of the most digitally connected countries in the world, and this is helping to drive economic growth and create new jobs and opportunities? The foundation of this lies in a robust telecom infrastructure, which is vital for the effective implementation of policies related to the Right of Way (ROW). This infrastructure serves as the backbone for high-speed broadband and mobile connectivity, facilitating essential digital services such as e-commerce, online education, digital payments, and government services.
The reliability of our telecom networks is paramount in ensuring seamless online experiences for individuals and businesses alike. These networks are instrumental in supporting activities like video streaming, online classes, and secure digital transactions. Furthermore, the advent of emerging technologies such as 5G, edge computing, and cloud services heavily relies on a sturdy telecom infrastructure poised to drive innovation across various sectors of the economy.
The latest ROW policies in India bring positive changes to the telecom sector, enhancing infrastructure deployment and service quality. Streamlined processes, like a single application for multiple small cell sites on the Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal, promise quicker deployment, improving mobile services. Utilizing existing street infrastructure in urban areas offers a cost-effective solution to meet growing digital service demands. Simplified application processes for underground telecom infrastructure aid rural deployment, potentially improving rural residents’ quality of life. Time-bound approvals for new technologies like 5G ensure efficient infrastructure rollout.
These amendments made last year were aimed at accelerating the modernization and expansion of telecom networks, facilitating the deployment of 5G small cells on existing street infrastructure. While the existing infrastructure may support the initial service rollout, to fully unlock the potential of 5G, a critical step involves fiberizing a minimum of 70% of the telecom telecom towers.
A Roadmap for improvement
The ROW policies in India have shown remarkable improvement in recent years, but there is always room for some further enhancements. Here are a few suggestions:
Enable telecom licensees to collaborate in sharing ROW infrastructure: This measure promises to drive down the expenses associated with infrastructure deployment while simplifying the process, particularly in remote regions.
Offer subsidies to telecom licensees for infrastructure expansion in rural and underserved areas: By incentivizing telecom companies to invest in these areas, we can enhance connectivity, narrowing the digital divide in the process.
Formulate an all-encompassing ROW policy tailored for emerging technologies like 5G: This proactive approach ensures that the essential infrastructure is readily available to support the seamless implementation of these cutting-edge technologies.
Standardized ROW policies across states are imperative: While some states and UTs have embraced this idea, the current variations in ROW policies across states create obstacles and delays for nationwide telecom infrastructure deployment. Hence, it is vital for the government to strive for consistent, nationwide ROW policies actively, simplifying the process and promoting efficient telecom infrastructure deployment.
These proposed initiatives have the potential to transform India’s telecommunications landscape, giving way to greater accessibility, affordability, and efficiency in services. By encouraging infrastructure sharing, providing incentives for rural expansion, and establishing forward-looking policies, we can take our country toward a more connected and technologically advanced future. With these strategic measures, India can continue its journey towards digital empowerment, ensuring that the benefits of technological progress reach every corner of the country, leaving no one behind.
By: Praveen Cherian, CEO, Global Services Business, STL



[ad_2]

Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *