Synopsis
The Indian government has set up an indigenous 5G lab at Gauhati University to enhance practical knowledge of 5G technology among students and faculty. This initiative is part of broader efforts to promote digital connectivity and innovation in Assam.Key Takeaways
- Government launches indigenous 5G lab at Gauhati University.
- C-DOT aims to deepen understanding of 5G and 6G technologies.
- Additional labs established at IIT Guwahati and NIT Silchar.
- ‘Semicon India’ program approved for semiconductor ecosystem development.
- BharatNet project initiated to improve rural broadband connectivity.
New Delhi, March 27 (NationPress) The government announced on Thursday the establishment of an indigenous 5G lab at Gauhati University in Assam, designed to provide faculty and students with hands-on knowledge of a complete 5G system.
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the telecom research and development center of the government, has set up this 5G lab to enable educators and students to better understand 5G technology, its system capabilities, and to explore innovative 5G use cases and applications, forming a basis for advanced research and specifications for future 6G technologies.
Alongside the 5G use case lab at Gauhati University, the government has also launched similar labs at IIT Guwahati and NIT Silchar to assist students, startups, and MSMEs in testing and developing applications and solutions based on 5G technology, as stated by Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, in a written response in the Rajya Sabha.
The Centre has approved the ‘Semicon India’ initiative with a total budget of Rs 76,000 crore to develop a semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country.
Furthermore, it has also sanctioned Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL)’s plan for establishing an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility in Morigaon, Assam, with an investment of Rs 27,120 crore and a production capacity of 48 million units per day.
The government has implemented various measures to close the digital gap in rural Assam.
The BharatNet project is being rolled out in phases to ensure broadband connectivity reaches all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages upon request throughout the country, including Assam, as noted by the minister.
The Department of Telecommunications has also provided funding for a research and development initiative at IIT Guwahati to promote Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), aiming to expedite Assam’s digital transformation and establish it as a technology hub, according to the minister.
