ANS: Today marked a momentous occasion for the IIT-ISM (Indian Institute of Technology- Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad as the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, bestowed the institution with a state-of-the-art 5G Use Case laboratory.
This landmark development, announced during the grand inauguration of the 7th edition of the India Mobile Congress, is poised to be a game-changer in advancing the expertise and engagement in 5G and beyond technologies within the student and academic community.
The newly awarded 5G Use Case laboratory is expected to serve as a hub for fostering academia-industry collaboration, encouraging the ideation and development of India-specific 5G applications, particularly tailored to cater to the needs of rural and remote areas.
PM made the historic announcement during the inaugural ceremony of the 7th Edition of India Mobile Congress 2023, which took place this morning at the prestigious Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan at New Delhi.
Notably, the event witnessed the active participation of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad’s administration, led by its Director, Professor JK Pattanayak, who joined the proceedings via video conferencing.
In an address to the assembled dignitaries, Modi emphasized the profound impact of this technological milestone in the 21st century. He highlighted the rapid pace of technological advancements, remarking, “The future is here and now.”
Underlining the pivotal role of technology in propelling a developing nation towards becoming a developed one, the Prime Minister affirmed that India is no less than any developed nation in terms of digital technology.
He enumerated various initiatives aimed at integrating different sectors with technology, such as the PM Gatishakti program in logistics, the National Health Mission in healthcare, and Agri Stack in the agriculture sector.
PM also acknowledged substantial investments in scientific research, the quantum mission, the National Research Foundation, and the promotion of indigenous designs and technology development.
Reflecting on India’s strides in 5G technology, PM Modi highlighted that the country had surprised the world with its 5G rollout last year and asserted that India didn’t stop there but continued its efforts to make 5G accessible to every citizen.
He stated, “India moved from the 5G rollout stage to the 5G reach-out stage.” Within a year of the 5G rollout, he disclosed the development of 4 lakh (400,000) 5G base stations, covering over 97 percent of cities and reaching 80 percent of the population.
He emphasized that the median mobile broadband speeds had tripled within a year and proudly stated that India had climbed from the 118th to the 43rd position globally in terms of broadband speed.
“India is not only expanding its 5G network but also striving to become a leader in 6G technology,” he added.
The awarding of the 5G Use Case laboratory to IIT (ISM) Dhanbad is expected to play a pivotal role in India’s journey toward becoming a technological powerhouse on the global stage.
This development signifies a significant step in leveraging advanced technologies to address the unique needs of the nation and contribute to global technological advancements.