India's 5G network among fastest globally, says Union minister

HYDERABAD: India has one of the fastest 5G rollouts in the world, with 600 districts receiving 5G telecom coverage in less than 200 days, asserted Union minister of state for communications Devusinh J. Chauhan.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day second meeting of G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG), which commenced here on Monday, Chauhan said that India had the second-largest telecom network in the world with the lowest data rate and has surprised the world by developing homegrown 4G and 5G technologies quickly.

The Centre's public policies have been profoundly influenced by the vision of Antyodaya, and they have been instrumental in inclusive welfarism and development. This is the second meeting of a G20 group in Hyderabad. The first was held between March 4 and 7 on ‘Global partnership for financial inclusion, and knowledge and experience exchange for emerging economies of global South’.

Three thematic sessions were held as part of the day's events, the first being 'High speed mobile broadband and its impacts,' which discussed last mile high speed connectivity, digital services in education, health, and agriculture, impact and innovation enhancement using artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, and Society 5.0, and so on. Measures to make mobile internet, smartphones, and assistance available to senior persons and others living in rural areas were also discussed.

Minister of state for social justice and empowerment A. Narayanaswamy, emphasised on ‘Digital Antyodaya’ approach and ‘Accessible India’ campaign for achieving universal accessibility for differently-abled persons in the country.

In the second session, 'Digital inclusion-connecting the unconnected,' issues such as access, adoption of digital technologies, value creation, speed, affordability, infrastructure, digital skilling, were discussed. In the 'Sustainable green digital infrastructure: Challenges and Opportunities' session, panellists discussed ways to green digital infrastructure, the sustainable development goals, carbon footprint reduction, renewable energy, and material reconditioning and recycling.

Later in the day, the delegates visited IIT, Hyderabad, where they examined various path-breaking projects and cutting-edge research in digital and telecom technologies, such as 6G system prototypes, an autonomous navigation testbed, and an AI-powered RNA-electronic test kit.

India’s G20 leadership so far

• 100  G20 meetings so far in 41 cities in 28 states, over 12,300 delegates, from over 110 countries;
• Plan for more than 200 G20-related meetings in 60 Indian cities;
• 13 Sherpa (emissary of head of state) Track Working Groups, 8 Finance Track Workstreams, 11 Engagement Groups;
• Three ministerial meetings - Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Bengaluru, G20 Foreign Ministers in New Delhi, second FMCBG meeting in Washington DC;
• Voice of Global South Summit in January 2023, chaired by Prime Minister, attended by 125 countries, including 18  Heads of State/Government;
• India’s G20 presidency started on December 1, 2022.