5G will bridge the urban-rural digital divide not only for small and medium-sized enterprises, but also for startups

Information and Technologies Minister (IT) Ashwini Vaishnav had last month said the government would invest about $30 billion to ensure last-mile network availability for 4G as well as 5G in villages to build robust digital infrastructure in rural areas.

Later, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi On October 1, it launched 5G telephony services, which promise super-fast internet on mobile phones, saying it marks the beginning of a new era and opens up many opportunities.

At st India At the Mobile Congress (IMC) 2022 conference last week, Modi announced the launch of 5G services in selected cities. Over the next few years, the services will gradually expand to cover the entire country.

Following the launch, News18 reached out to industry insiders to understand how this next-generation technology will help rural India in the coming years.

The future with 5G

National Internet Exchange of India CEO Anil Kumar Jain said he believes 5G will open up opportunities for the country and related businesses, including small and medium enterprises, startups and creative industries, and are expected to see the benefits of digital technology and revolution in urban and rural India.

But the division into town and village is the reality of the country. Referring to the issue, Arshdeep Singh Mundy, managing director of Jujhar-Netplus, told News 18 that 5G will act as a bridge, improving network, spectrum and energy efficiency in rural India.

“Because it enables the seamless integration of different networks and technologies, 5G will bring us one step closer to always being connected to everything, everywhere. For customer segments living in rural areas, the integration of satellites into 5G networks will open the door to new applications in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, and emergency response,” the industry expert noted.

Similarly, Mihir Sanchala, assistant vice president of technology at PlayerzPot, said that with the reduction in connectivity hurdles over the faster network, the development will be extended to tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

According to him, the penetration of smartphones in rural India will also enhance the progress of rural India, making it a potential market for various business entities.

“This, in turn, will lead to an increase in the level of employment, digitalization and a better place on the business map of our country,” Sanchala added.

Another industry insider, Sriram Rupanagunta, co-founder and senior vice-president, engineering, Aarna Networks, said the government has set a tough target of 80% coverage in a short span of time and if it is achieved, it will greatly help rural India since then . many areas will be covered.

He opines, “Huge economies of scale are also likely to reduce prices and make them affordable to the price-sensitive rural segment.”

“5G can help rural India use technology for precision agriculture. This will greatly benefit the agricultural sector and also reduce the use of pesticides,” Rupanagunta added.

Meanwhile, Ashwani Arora, CEO of Marketxcel, explained that depending on government policies and implementation strategies, 5G can boost growth and promote rural development, but a single network may not be enough.

Arora believes that a robust support infrastructure will need to be created, which is quintessential to support this technology and take advantage of it.

He said, “While 5G will provide seamless connectivity, it will provide control and monitoring of government programs, help agriculture and offer continuous information on best farming practices, stimulate agricultural entrepreneurship, which basically helps the farmer to identify business opportunities and stimulate employment. income beyond normal farming.”

Along with providing healthcare services, Arora believes that thanks to 5G, rural economies can become micro-hubs for trade and empower rural entrepreneurs.

Read everything Latest technical news and Latest news here