14-Jan-2023: Vidisha became the first-ever district in India for on-ground deployment of innovative 5G use cases offered by startups.
Aspirational District Programme
- Launched in 2018
- Aims to transform districts with poor socio-economic indicators
- Covers 112 districts in India
- Anchored by NITI Aayog
Vidisha's 5G Initiative
- Joint initiative by Vidisha District Administration and Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
- Guided by Additional Secretary (Telecom) & Administrator Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)
- First-ever district in India for on-ground deployment of innovative 5G use cases offered by startups
- 5G to be deployed at community & district health centers, Model Schools, Agri & Dairy Farmers, and skill development centers
- Powered by BharatNet broadband
- May be extended after 1 year
5G Technology
- 5th generation mobile network
- New global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks
- Works in 3 bands (Low, Mid and High frequency spectrum)
- Enables a new kind of network designed to connect virtually everything together including machines, objects, and devices.
21-Dec-2022: 6G Technology
The Department of Telecommunications has constituted a Technology Innovation Group on 6G (TIG-6G) on 1st November 2021 with members from various Ministries/Departments, research and development institutions, academia, standardization bodies, Telecom Service Providers and industry to develop Vision, Mission and Goals for the 6G and also develop roadmap and action plans for 6G in India. The TIG-6G has constituted six Task Forces with industry, academia, R&D institutions and Government as members on Multi-Disciplinary Innovative Solutions, Multiplatform Next Generation Networks, Spectrum for Next Generation Requirements, Devices, International Standards Contribution and Funding Research and Development. India is also contributing to International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 6G visioning exercise.
16-Dec-2022: Net Neutrality in India
Directives on Net Neutrality incorporating the principles of non-discriminatory treatment of content were issued by Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in July 2018. Subsequently, DoT amended the Unified License for Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and Unified License (Virtual Network Operators) and Unified Access Service License Agreement to incorporate the principles of non-discriminatory treatment of content in Sept. 2018 and issued an amendment in Internet Service Provider license for Regulatory Framework on “Net Neutrality” in May 2019.
DoT sent a reference to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 31.07.2018 seeking TRAI’s recommendations on ‘Traffic Management Practices (TMPs) and Multi-Stakeholder Body for Net Neutrality’. TRAI provided its recommendation on the subject on 22.09.2020. The recommendations of TRAI are under examination.
Technical audit of Internet Service Providers which includes technical information about the network, upstream and downstream bandwidth, tariff plans etc., is being done annually.