Government's push on fiberisation and technology will spur connectivity, while the design-led scheme announced in the Budget for 5G ecosystem will bolster India's position as a manufacturing hub, telecom industry said on Tuesday.
Budget announcements including those around 5G spectrum auction and 100 per cent fiberisation with PPP model would provide the required impetus to accelerate ubiquitous and reliable internet connectivity, Nitin Bansal, managing director, India and Head-Networks - Southeast Asia, Oceania and India at Ericsson, said.
HFCL Ltd managing director Mahendra Nahata said the expected spectrum rollout for 5G in 2022, combined with the scheme for design-led manufacturing for 5G equipment under the PLI scheme will not only lead to sectoral advancements but also spur job opportunities.
"...We are delighted to hear that contracts for laying optical fibre in villages will be awarded under BharatNet project under PPP model in 2022-23. This will help the telecom industry in providing affordable broadband and mobile communication in rural and remote areas," Nahata observed. Prashant Singhal, TMT (Technology, Media, Telecom) Emerging Markets Leader, EY, noted that allocating 5 per cent of annual USOF collection will significantly bolster rural connectivity.
"Strengthening of the BharatNet infrastructure through PPP model will enhance the connectivity backbone of an increasingly digital nation. Globally, 200 telcos in 78 countries have already launched commercial 5G services," he said.
According to Singhal, a clear focus on 5G spectrum auctions and rollout will help India to catch up with the rest of the world. The budget announcement has given much-needed push for 5G, Singhal said adding government's move to launch a design-led manufacturing scheme will help to position India as a hub for 5G equipment manufacturing and exports.
Sterlite Technologies' (STL) managing director Ankit Agarwal believes that budget will accelerate India's digital ambitions.
"...It sets the foundation for India's 5G readiness through spectrum auctions, R&D impetus, USOF allocation along with a boost for domestic manufacturing through a timely 'Design-led manufacturing' scheme," Agarwal said.
As per Deloitte India, Partner and telecom sector leader, Peeyush Vaish, the PLI scheme extension to 5G rollout and the commitment on fibre in all villages by 2025 will give an additional thrust to investment in new technologies in the telecom sector.
Telecom Sector Skill Council, CEO, Arvind Bali, said the announcement of spectrum auction in 2022 for 5G rollout and the scheme for design-led manufacturing is likely to "uplift" human resource requirements significantly as also the need to train the existing and new
workforce.
