In the dynamic landscape of technological evolution, nations worldwide are racing to strengthen their digital infrastructures. Among them, India is poised to witness a significant leap in its digital infrastructure and technology sector, backed by strong support from the government, increased foreign investment, a thriving start-up ecosystem and a burgeoning tech-savvy populace.
The government’s push towards digitalisation, widespread adoption of technology, emerging cutting-edge technologies and evolving user expectations have all contributed to the emerging digital infrastructure trends. A look at the emerging technologies being used in the digital infrastructure space…
Drones
One of the sectors that has witnessed a significant transformation with the introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, is telecommunications. The telecom industry plays a vital role in keeping people connected, and the integration of drones into this field is revolutionising how networks are maintained and expanded. Today, most telecom network expansion is happening on the wireless side, which involves the use of towers. Drones are playing a significant role in transforming the way companies approach tower inspections, network expansions and emergency response.
Drones have become indispensable tools for tower inspection and maintenance in the telecommunications industry. They can capture detailed images and videos of towers, antennae and other infrastructure, allowing technicians to assess the condition of the equipment remotely, diagnose faults and plan necessary repairs. This reduces the need for manual inspections, improves safety, saves time and minimises downtime.
In addition, they are being used for line-of-sight testing. Line-of-sight refers to the clear path between two antennas. Drones are deployed to identify obstacles such as trees, buildings and hilltops that can degrade signal transmission, and this information can then be used to determine the ideal location and height for antenna positioning. Drones are also capable of performing aerial signal strength testing, which helps engineers fine-tune the positioning and alignment of antennas, thus improving network performance and coverage.
Meanwhile, drones are also playing a critical role in surveys and mapping for the telecom industry, helping engineers identify the best locations for new towers or network expansions. They can quickly generate accurate 3D models and high-resolution orthomosaic maps of the terrain, making them ideal for collecting data in remote or hard-to-reach locations. This speeds up the planning process and ensures optimal network coverage. As the demand for better and faster connectivity continues to grow, the telecom industry is constantly expanding and improving its networks. Drones help achieve this by assisting in the installation of new equipment and monitoring the progress of ongoing projects. They can transport small payloads, such as antennae and cables, to hard-to-reach locations, speeding up the deployment process.
With drones becoming more widely integrated into the telecom industry, regulations are necessary to accommodate these new applications. This encompasses easing certain restrictions, implementing new safety measures, or creating more specific guidelines for drone use in telecom. Furthermore, drones are advancing and becoming better integrated with other technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT). This is leading to more efficient data analysis, improved network planning and even real-time monitoring of infrastructure health.
Edge data centres
Edge data centres have emerged as a critical enabler of the country’s burgeoning digital economy. With the advent of 5G technology, edge data centres are receiving a much-needed impetus to support an entire ecosystem of 5G networks.
An edge data centre is a small facility located close to the population it serves, delivering cloud computing and cached content to its users. Edge data centres provide end-users with a faster, more stable and responsive network by eliminating the need to transfer data from distant data centres in order to process it. This results in faster performance and lower latency, which is the main reason these data centres are gaining traction across the globe.
Edge data centres share many attributes with larger, more traditional data centre facilities. However, they are designed to support widely distributed services. The location of an edge data centre is determined by the business case, application latency, network capacity and cost. The key feature of edge data centres is that data will not have to travel to a centralised point. This feature allows applications such as cloud gaming, IoT, augmented reality (AR) and AI – all of which require low latency and high bandwidth – to deliver a satisfactory experience to the 5G customer.
Edge data centres have been instrumental in democratising access to advanced IT infrastructure, ensuring that the benefits are not limited to metropolitan areas but extend to smaller towns and cities. A report by IAMAI suggests that by 2025, 56 per cent of new internet users in India will come from rural areas, outpacing urban areas. To meet the growing demand for data usage, it is necessary to deploy edge infrastructure that can provide low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity in remote locations, villages, and Tier II and III cities.
Moving ahead, the 5G edge computing market is predicted to grow by 49.8 per cent from 2023 to 2030. This indicates a promising future for edge data centres, as enterprises, telecommunications companies and cloud service providers plan to invest more in these centres in the coming years. These investments will help speed up applications such as streaming video, factory automation and telemedicine, and enable new technologies such as autonomous vehicles, AR and virtual reality. By addressing the unique challenges posed by the country’s diverse geography and growing digital footprint, edge data centre infrastructure can foster inclusivity, enhance user experiences and propel India towards the forefront of the global digital economy.
EV charging infrastructure
One of the biggest concerns for electric vehicle (EV) owners is having access to reliable charging infrastructure. Telecom infrastructure plays a vital role in this, as it helps monitor, manage and optimise charging stations. Moreover, as more people adopt EVs and autonomous cars, a large number of EV charging stations will be needed, leading to a rise in demand for smart poles.
A smart pole is essentially a light pole equipped with intelligent LED lighting, a camera, an EV charging system and high-speed internet connectivity. Smart poles contain all the components necessary to host EV charging equipment, improving the efficiency of the whole charging process through advanced communication networks. This includes real-time data about charging availability, billing and power usage. By leveraging the power of IoT, charging station operators can remotely gather data, monitor the charging status and optimise charging processes. Smart poles also enable secure and convenient payment options for EV charging.
Moreover, reliable data communication is crucial for real-time telematics systems in EVs. Telecom networks enable the transmission of vehicle data, including battery status, location and vehicle diagnostics. This data helps optimise driving routes, improve battery performance and enhance the overall EV experience.
However, one of the major disadvantages of smart poles is their high production, installation and maintenance costs, which makes it challenging for small-scale organisations to adopt them. Regardless, the Indian smart poles market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, due to the increasing need to reduce energy consumption, improve public safety and security, enhance traffic management, and provide access to various communication services such as Wi-Fi and 5G. Currently, the development of smart cities is one of the key drivers of the Indian smart pole market. In addition, the integration of smart poles with various technologies, such as IoT, AI and renewable energy sources, will drive the growth of the market.
Smart poles and towers allow towercos to monetise various adjacencies. In fact, smart poles are rapidly emerging as the preferred medium for tower deployment among industry players. Additionally, the majority of states have released EV policies, with considerable incentives, and the central government is also releasing supportive policies in this space.
Way forward
Digital technologies can only advance as quickly as the infrastructure that supports them. Therefore, as the government aims to achieve goals such as smart cities and smart health, it is essential that the nation invest in its digital infrastructure to effectively leverage frontier technologies and drive economic development. However, realising this potential requires a collaborative effort from stakeholders across government, industry and academia to address challenges such as the digital divide, cybersecurity threats and regulatory hurdles.
