Context:
Recently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) announced two proposals—5G Intelligent Village and Quantum Encryption Algorithm (QEA)—aimed at catalysing innovation and technological advancement in the telecom sector.
Relevance:
GS II: Government Policies and Interventions
Dimensions of the Article:
- About 5G Intelligent Village Initiative:
- About 5G
About 5G Intelligent Village Initiative:
- Objective:
- The initiative addresses the need for equitable technological advancement, leveraging 5G technology to uplift rural communities.
- It aims to effectively utilize Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) and massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) aspects of 5G in selected villages.
- Scope:
- The initiative focuses on showcasing the advantages of 5G connectivity.
- It targets critical sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare, governance, and sustainability.
Key Facts about Quantum Encryption Algorithm (QEA)
- Purpose:
- The call for proposals aims to develop an India-specific Quantum Encryption Algorithm (QEA).
- This algorithm will secure digital communication channels using quantum mechanics principles.
- Requirements:
- The algorithm must ensure unparalleled security, advanced encryption capabilities, and ultrafast and efficient encryption.
- Funding for these proposals will be provided under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the Department of Telecom (DoT).
What is Telecom Technology Development Fund?
- Establishment:
- The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) is set up under the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) of the Department of Telecom (DoT), Government of India.
- Purpose:
- It aims to promote the ecosystem for research, design, prototyping, proof of concept testing, intellectual property rights (IPR) creation, field testing, security, certification, and manufacturing of products.
About 5G
- 5G is the next generation of mobile broadband that will eventually replace, or at least augment 4G LTE connection and it offers exponentially faster download and upload speeds.
- 5G will deliver multi-Gbps peak rates, ultra-low latency, massive capacity, and a more uniform user experience.
- This is in contrast to 4G link speeds in averaging 6-7 Megabit per second (Mbps) in India as compared to 25 Mbps in advanced countries.
Application of 5G
- 5G will help in creating cyber-physical networks which not only interconnect people, but also interconnect and control machines, objects, and devices. It will deliver new levels of performance and efficiency that will empower new user experiences and connect new industries.
- It will act as an enabler for the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and is expected to form the backbone of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine to machine communications.
- 5G can also help make transport infrastructure more efficient by making it smart. It will enable vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, making driverless cars, among other things, a reality.
- Also, the primary applications of 5G will be the implementation of a sensor-embedded network that will allow real-time relay of information across fields such as manufacturing, consumer durables and agriculture
-Source: The Hindu, PIB
