`Make in India’ telecom conclave calls for need-based technology development

The `Make in India-Telecom' conclave held in New Delhi today called for development of need-based technology in order to foster indigenous manufacture of telecom gear and limit the country's excessive dependence on imports.

Speaking at the conclave, Rakesh Garg, secretary, department of telecom, emphasised the need for frequent exchange of views among manufacturers, service providers, operators, industry and the R&D institutes to find out the shortcomings and ways to address the problems faced.

He said there is no dearth of talent in India but still we are hugely dependent on imports, especially in electronics and telecom - while research is being done in India, IPRs are with other countries. This, he said, must end as Indian consumers are forced to buy products at higher costs from other countries.

He said that there is a great need to make a mechanism to interact with the industry before developing technology or a solution rather than post development.

He appreciated C-DOT's role in connecting gram panchayts with broadband under the NOFN.

Rita Teotia, special secretary, DoT, said India's telecom sector slipped once the wireless era began, necessitating massive imports and decline in manufacturing. She said the conclave is very timely and opportune because in the building blocks for `Make in India' R&D is the first block.

Teotia recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day call for ''zero defect'' manufacturing, saying manufacturers in the country should set high standards so that their products are not rejected.

Vipin Tyagi, executive director of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) said that `Make in India' is of special relevance for organisations like C-DOT taht are dedicatedly involved in indigenous R&D. He said `Digital India' and `Make in India' are complementary and cannot survive without one-another.

He explained the objectives of the conclave and presented C-DOT product profile. The panel discussion focused mainly on the need to revive the telecom manufacturing in the country in line with the needs of operators and other users of telecom solutions. The future research roadmap of C-DOT was also discussed with the industry to assure that it would continue to bring indigenous telecom products as per the requirements of the nation.

Forex outflow from the country on the account of electronic imports is increasing day by day and it is of paramount importance to further indigenous technologies and take them to manufacturers. This will not only save huge forex for the country, but would also develop an eco space of manufacturers, vendors, application developers in the country.

Recent initiatives by the government like preferential market access have reinvigorated Indian telecom fraternity and it is expected that deliberations in 'Make in India - Telecom' conclave would pave the way for close co-operation among indigenous technology developers, manufacturers, academia, and policy makers of the country.

C-DOT presented its offerings for various consumer segments such as TSPs, ISPs, building networks, campus networks, public Wi-Fi Hotspots, and rural BPO etc.

Generation Network (NGN) solution addresses the needs of the changing telecom scenario and enables a smooth transition from Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) to NGN based Voice-over-IP (VoIP). 'GyanSetu' is an internet based real-time ICT system designed by C-DOT, primarily to provide various e-services to the under privileged rural population of India.

Telecom industry stakeholders, including policy makers, operators, manufacturers and academia, participated in the conclave to share their understanding of present telecom landscape, future telecom trends and approach for furthering telecom manufacturing in India.