The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced two significant calls for proposals aimed at catalysing innovation and technological advancement in the telecommunications sector.
It is a signification move towards Jai Anusandhan, aimed at promoting innovative start-ups in the country and to establish an ecosystem of research and entrepreneurship. These initiatives underscore DoT’s commitment to fostering indigenous research and development (R&D), promoting internet protocol (IP) creation, and achieving inclusive digital growth across India.
According to DoT, these proposals are under the categories 5G intelligent village and quantum encryption algorithm (QEA) and has invited participants from industry, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups, academia and government departments involved in technology design, development, commercialisation of telecommunication products and solutions.
In addition, these proposals shall be funded under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of DoT and represent pivotal steps towards harnessing advanced technologies for societal benefit and reinforcing India’s leadership in telecommunications innovation.
As per Dot, the 5G intelligent village initiative responds to the pressing need for equitable technological advancement by harnessing the transformative power of 5G technology to uplift rural communities. The call for proposals – “From connectivity gaps to smart solutions: designing 5g networks for rural innovation- 5G intelligent villages”, aim to addresses critical pillars such as agriculture, education, healthcare, governance, and sustainability. The proposed village locations include:
- Dharmaj, Anand district, Gujarat
- Ramgarh urf Rajahi, Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh
- Anandpur Jalbera, Ambala district, Haryana
- Bajargaon, Nagpur district, Maharashtra
- Bhagwanpura, Bhilwara district, Rajasthan
- Dablong, Nagaon district, Assam
- Raosar, Ashoknagar district, Madhya Pradesh
- Aari, Guna district, Madhya Pradesh
- Banskhedi, Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh
- Burripalem, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
Further, proposals are invited to enable effective utilisation of ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) and massive machine type communication (mMTC) aspects of 5G in selected villages, showcasing the advantages of 5G connectivity. Proposals can also include plans for establishing 5G connectivity in areas without existing coverage.
This initiative aims to unite telecom service providers, sensor manufacturers, CCTV suppliers, and internet of things (IoT) providers on a single platform to explore and exploit the potential advantages of 5G, serving as a hub for research and development in this field.
Furthermore, the call for proposals is for developing an India-specific QEA that will represent a cutting-edge approach to securing digital communication channels by leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics. The algorithm should ensure unparalleled security, advanced encryption capabilities, ultrafast and efficient encryption etc.
The last date of submission of applications is July 31, 2024.
