The achievement of the national vision of Viksit Bharat with a consistent GDP growth rate of over 10% makes access to good-quality broadband an indisputable imperative for all citizens of India, whether urban or rural. Most of the Pillars of Digital India are premised on the foundation of high-quality broadband. Inclusivity and 'sab ka sath, sab ka vikas' are paramount.
Despite years of dedicated efforts from the government and the private sector, the issue of inadequate, unreliable, and unaffordable broadband connectivity for the remote, unconnected, and underserved many remains a pressing concern. The urban-rural net connectivity gap, which stands at a staggering 65%, underscores the urgency of the situation.
It may be noted that the above divide does not take into account the technology divide between 2G, 4G, and 5G, nor the divide between superior fixed broadband and more widespread mobile broadband (an estimated 250 million 2G users still exist). None of the terrestrial technologies has succeeded in bridging the divide between net and broadband access.
However, there is hope. Practical and operational challenges and financial viability issues have been and still are being faced in connecting such difficult-to-reach and underserved areas of our vast and diverse country. Here, Satellite Communications (Satcom) can emerge as a real saviour and, if applied appropriately, can help successfully bridge the digital divide, offering a beacon of hope for the future.
THE SATCOM OPPORTUNITY
In 2023, PwC, in collaboration with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACE), industry stakeholders, and space actors, released a significant report titled 'A Decadal Vision for the Space Sector. This report projected that India's satcom sector, valued at USD 2.3 billion, will soar to USD 14.4 billion by 2033.
Esta historia es de la edición August 2024 de Voice and Data.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 2024 de Voice and Data.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Data As Medicine Tech Revolutionises Healthcare Insights
GenAl can help the healthcare sector enhance data quality, enabling real-time analysis and generating synthetic data for improved patient care
Telecom troubles: Mega deals mask underlying sector weakness
Q1FY25 reveals telecom sector challenges: despite Infosys and HCLT's gains from big deals, TCS, Wipro, and Tech M see revenue drops, signalling ongoing issues
New broadcasting bill draft raises censorship concerns
The Bill seeks to regulate online news distributors, raising concerns about free speech and the legislative process amid industry debates
Satellites in your pocket? Not so fast
Despite the hype, satellite networks for smartphones remain a distant horizon, hindered by technical challenges and economic constraints
Wearables hit a roadblock as smartwatch stumbles in 2024
India's wearable market faces its first decline as smartwatches struggle with oversupply and innovation fatigue, while earwear remains steady
Early warnings in the heatwave mine: Telecom at risk
Extreme heat waves are threatening telecom infrastructure globally, necessitating innovative solutions for enhanced climate resilience
A marriage of the two worlds
As terrestrial and satellite networks get together, they promise a revolution in global connectivity, blending their strengths to overcome traditional barriers
BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WITH SKYWARD SOLUTIONS
India's Viksit Bharat vision hinges on high-quality broadband access for all, with Satcom bridging the digital divide and driving inclusive growth
"Our NVS business witnessed a remarkable growth of 41%"
In 2023, the company's network video surveillance business grew 41% compared to 2022 and has attracted clients across IT, pharma, education, logistics, BFSI, automotive, and government verticals. Bhasker Chander Joshi, Assistant Director, Frontier Business Division (FBD), Canon India, is upbeat and ambitious about what the next page unfolds. Joshi manages the FBD operations, straddling areas like sales, marketing, operations, technical alliances, and P&L.
"Similar to roads, digital infrastructure must also be protected"
Dharmender Khajuria, Head - Network Partnerships, Bharti Airtel, brings over 24 years of experience in consumer durables and telecom, spanning diverse geographic and multicultural settings. His leadership roles have included COO positions in J&K, UP West, Uttarakhand, and CEO roles in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. With extensive expertise in sales, distribution, marketing, and operations management, he has held full P&L responsibility. In this conversation with Shubhendu Parth, he discusses the challenges faced by telecom service providers in network expansion and fibreisation, the ROW issue, and ongoing efforts in collaboration and green initiatives. Excerpts: