The Minister of State for Communications, Devusinh Chauhan, has informed the Lok Sabha that 5G services are now available in 329 cities across India, covering all Licensed Service Areas (LSAs). Chauhan also revealed that population-scale solutions are being tested on indigenous 4G/5G stacks across a range of sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, education, gaming, smart manufacturing and drones.
Two firms, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd and the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), have been involved in the development of an indigenous 4G/5G technology stack, with the former deploying the solution extensively in the rollout of its 5G network. The minister also said that the stacks could be exported to other countries in the future.
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The Communications Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, confirmed that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited's (BSNL) 5G services will be launched after the rollout of 4G services across India. BSNL has already tendered for 1 lakh 4G sites, with the bid having been evaluated and awaiting approval from the Group of Ministers. The minister stated that the 4G services, including in Maharashtra and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will be rolled out within 18-24 months of the Purchase Order being issued.
Regarding the merger of BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), MoS Chauhan informed the Lok Sabha that the Cabinet had approved the formation of a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) to examine the matter in detail.
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In addition, when asked about over-the-top (OTT) communication services, Chauhan said that the draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022 released for public consultation in September, includes OTT communication services as a type of telecommunication service.
The bill aims to cover all forms of telecommunication, including OTT communication services, under the ambit of law. The draft Telecommunication Bill will be revised based on feedback received during the public consultation.