The country is likely to witness the roll out of the much awaited high speed 5G mobile services in about a month's time.
"In about a month, 5G mobile services will roll out in the country, which will have multiplier effects on the development of all sectors. A 6G Technology Innovations Group, has also been set up, which is working towards the development of indigenous 6G stack," said Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications, while addressing the inaugural event of International Telecommunication Union's Regional Standardisation Forum (RSF) for Asia and Oceania region on Monday.
He said that the government is promoting the indigenously designed, developed and manufactured advanced telecom technology, and as a result, India today has a strong home-grown 5G mobile communications ecosystem.
"By the end of this year, we are likely to see indigenously developed, and manufactured 5G stack, getting deployed, in rolling out 5G network in India. Our engineers have developed a set of 5G standards, which will facilitate the spread of the 5G network in rural areas," he said.
Talking about the Centre's initiatives to address the issues concerning digital divide, the minister said that the steps include taking optical fibers to all 6 lakh villages of the country, and also cover all these villages with 4G mobile communications.
He informed that around 1,75,000 villages are already provided with the optical fibre, while around 5,60,000 villages have 4G mobile facilities. A multi-billion-dollar, comprehensive plan has been made, which will ensure optical fibre and mobile communications in all six hundred thousand villages by 2025.
Talking about the positive, and forward-looking environment created by telecom reforms in the country, the Minister said: "As a result, the recent 5G spectrum auction in India has fetched bids of 20 billion dollars. This very well reflects the confidence and sentiments of the Indian telecom industry."
Mahadev betting scam: Actress Tamannaah Bhatia summoned by Maha Police
Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia has been summoned by the Maharashtra Cyber Police for the ongoing investigations into the multi-crore Mahadev online gambling and betting scam, officials here said on Thursday.
Salman house firing case: Mumbai cops fish out arms, ammunition from River Tapi in Surat
In a big breakthrough, the Mumbai Police have recovered some arms and ammunition that were reportedly used in the firing at the house of Bollywood megastar Salman Khan on April 14, official sources said on Tuesday.
NCP manifesto: Caste-based census, MSP for farmers
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is now an ally of the NDA and the ruling partner in the MahaYuti government in Maharashtra, has demanded the caste-based census and Minimum Support Price for farmers.
Uddhav Thackeray skips INDIA bloc's rally in Ranchi, sends representative
Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray skipped the INDIA bloc rally scheduled in Ranchi this evening, an aide said here on Sunday.
Congress, INDIA bloc against development & farmers: PM Modi says in Maharashtra
Criticising the Congress and the INDIA bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the unwavering faith of the people in 'Modi's Guarantee' is giving sleepless nights to the Opposition alliance leaders.
Bitcoin scam case: ED attaches assets worth over Rs 97 cr of Raj Kundra, Shilpa Shetty
The attached properties include a residential flat in Juhu, which is in the name of Shilpa Shetty, another residential bungalow in Pune and equity shares in Raj Kundra's name.
Congress in Tripura blocks rail stations to protest police fired-killing of 5 farmers in MP
The firing on Tuesday came during raucous protests to demand better crop prices in the drought-ravaged region that saw one farmer suicide every five hours in the past two years.
DMs, SPs of violence-hit MP districts transferred
The farmers agitation entered its eighth day on Thursday. The peasants have been on strike since June 1, demanding loan waiver and fair price for their produce.