Reddy Inaugurates 5G Experience Centre at Guwahati
Guwahati,, Sep 29, 2023, By Our Correspondent
Minister, DoNER Sh. G. Kishan Reddy today virtually inaugurated 5G Applications in 7 NER States (Other than Arunachal Pradesh) and 5G Experience Centre here in Tech City, Bongora, Guwahati. This inauguration is in continuation of the vision set by Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi in the Golden Jubilee of North Eastern Council. Prime Minister during his address to NEC in its Golden Jubilee Celebrations held on 18th December, 2022 emphasised to capitalize on ‘Asht Lakshmi’ (Goddess of Wealth) Govt. should work on 8 foundation pillars for the development of entire NE Region in which one of the major pillars emphasised was 5G connectivity of digital connectivity for job creation, attaining other socio-economic developmental goals and meeting the SDG 2030 targets in NER.
This project is being executed by AMTRON in collaboration with various Government Agencies like Ministry of DoNER, Department of Telecommunications, Telecom Sector Skill Council, School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi; Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi; Design Innovation Center, UIET, Panjab University, ALIMCO, a PSU of Ministry of Social Justice & Development, Government of India. All this while, NEC took the lead in providing the guidance and coordination.
Speaking on the occasion, Sh. G. Kishan Reddy said that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi India's digital economy has surged exponentially with phenomenal rise in online activities for day-to-day life which has already put India well ahead of some of the world's largest economies. Services such as Aadhar, United Payments Interface (UPI) and Digilocker have been instrumental in unlocking potential in India's internet economy. Based on this vision, North Eastern Council, Ministry of DoNER has 100% funded the rolled out India’s first 5G Training Labs and 5G Health Use Case applications on large scale across all 8 NE States.
Complimenting all the stakeholders involved in the project particularly NEC, MDoNER, AMTRON, the 8 NE State Governments, DoT, TSSC, SPA-Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, Punjab University and ALIMCO, Sh. G. Kishan Reddy said that the initiative would prove a game changer with same approach taking to different sectors. When replicated in other parts of the country, it would establish that working and collaborating together brings out the best results.
Reddy revealed that this project had been completed across all 8 States in a record time of around 75 days which is a record for any project of North Eastern Council under the policy of “Act First & Fast for North East”. The project includes four major components; which includes 5G Training Labs one in each State of North East and a cloud supported MOOC Courses on 5G and TSSC (Telecom Sector Skill Council) which successfully imparted Master Trainers for 5G Labs. The users can experience the power of Edge computing wherein the speed of internet downloading of study materials can be experienced live at the 5G Labs established in each of the 8 NE States. The locations of these 5G Labs are in all 8 States in various Institutions and at Tech City of AMTRON. The Minister expressed hope that the 5G Labs would help the youth from North East to gain skills relevant in Industry 4.0 and take optimal advantage of fruits of knowledge economy which could help NE to improve many of its gaps in SDG 2030 Goals.
Elaborating upon 5G Health Use Cases Sh. G. Kishan Reddy said that the use cases primary showcase solutions for “Ease of Living” and have profound effect on improving the quality of large scale preventive community healthcare screening and reducing out of pocket expenses for common man which is a huge burden in Hilly States of North East. The Mobile ECG application shall also help prevent avoidable deaths since cardiac deaths are the highest killer in India in NCD Sector. The 5G Health Use Case applications will be based on a revenue model in order to sustain and grow. Our initial study has indicated that the overall cost to the patients, users, start-ups, entrepreneurs, engineers, teachers and general citizens will be fairly lower than the present facilities available for the same facilities at higher and often much higher costs.
Minister of DoNER told that the Health Applications deployed at different Hospitals and locations included Diabetic Retinopathy, AR /VR Based Anatomy Learning Models, Imaging Device combining AI (Artificial Intelligence) to detect and classify bacteria on wounds, Stroke Prognostics: Monitoring Brain Function in Stroke Management, AI Based Cataract Analysis Using Smart Phones, AI Technology for Respiratory Health Through Audiometric Analysis of Cough Sounds, AI Based Medical Image Analysis Over Cloud for better clinical decision making, AI Based Drip Monitoring For IPD Patients by Attending Nurses and Mobile / Cloud Based ECG Solution (30 Units In each spoke state and 16 Units In Assam).
Sh. G. Kishan Reddy said that 5G was equally significant for cane and bamboo artisans and was being executed in association with School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi. 5G Experience Centre in Guwahati would enable Private 5G Network in Experience Center including 5G Lab & Training Center, Central control of MOOC courses, Health use case demo, Locomotor Challenge IoT Based Assessment, IoT based diagnostic kiosk/kit and Senior Citizen IoT Healthcare services, he said.
Minister of State, MDoNER Sh. B.L. Verma in his address expressed happiness over the launch of 5G Applications in the NER with the hub at AMPTRON at Guwahati. He said that under the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is advancing towards a futuristic future in what is termed under Amrit Kaal. India’s recognition as the ‘Pharmacy of the World’ provides an opportune moment for us to assume leadership in technological innovation, research, and manufacturing, aiming to become a global pioneer in these sectors. Our objective is self-reliance in medical and IT industries, aligning seamlessly with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and “Make in India, Make for the World.”
Sh. B.L. Verma told that the Digital India Stack has become a global benchmark, providing a competitive advantage for businesses. The widespread adoption of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Production Linked Incentives (PLI) for different sectors, Pradhan Mantri Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISA) fostering digital literacy, Bharat Net Project, MyScheme,Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance (UMANG), and 'Bhashini', UPI, CoWIN, e-RUPI, TReDS, DigiLocker, Account Aggregators, ONDC, and OCEN, etc makes India's digital transformation a compelling success story.
Sh. Verma congratulated the Ministry of DoNER, the North Eastern Council, AMTRON, and all North Eastern states as a whole for launching India's first 5G Training Labs and 5G Health Use Case applications across all eight North Eastern states. He urged all to shape the future with 5G technology together and develop our Ashtalakshmi states as trendsetters for progress in the digital age.
Detailing about the objectives of the project Sh. Ramendra Narayan Kalita, Chairman, AMPTRON said under the project, one 5G Training Labs in each of the 8 NE states had been commissioned. Presently, we have specific use cases for healthcare in preventing avoidable cardiac deaths, geriatrics care solution and low-cost diagnostics, Education in improving access to Digital Education Data and Artisans with immersive online experience to increase outreach of consumers.
Sh. Chanchal Kumar, Secretary, MDoNER said in his address that 5G has the potential not only to spark a digital revolution but also impact the future of work and increase productivity. Crucially, the technology is expected to drive the engine of economic growth across all sectors. The massive usage of different mobile apps and e-platform owe their backbone to robust 4G Infra in India. The first-hand experience of the customers should have on how their day-to-day challenges are solved. He said that various states including Kerala and J&K are showing keen interest in this technology. A massive utilization of 5G Application should be ensured with the help of IIT, Guwahati to uplift the entire NER and provide efficient services.
Sh. K. Moses Chalai while welcoming the audience briefed about the NEC funded 5G Applications in NRE with hub at AMPTRON, Guwahati established at a cost of Rs. 14.96 Crore and implemented by Assam Electronics Corporation Ltd, Govt. of Assam Undertaking under the guidance of Prime inister Sh. Narendra Modi and MDoNER Sh. G. Kishan Reddy. It would help in local HR Capacity Building Through 5G Labs & MOOC Courses, Deployment of Locally Relevant 5G Use Cases. The project would showcase on a Pilot Scale thematic use cases healthcare, improved access to Digital Educational Content, Bamboo and Cane Artisans and Crafts Persons and Agriculture Use Cases, he added.
A video display of the 5G Applications deployed in eight NER States was, also, presented on the occasion.
Vote of thanks was presented by S. Narang Pawar, Managing Director, AMPTRON.
Various dignitaries those present online and offline included Sh. Pema Khandu, CM, Sikkim, Sh. Alo Libang, Health Minister, Arunachal, Health Minister of Meghalaya Dr. Ampareen Lynndoh, Sh. Lorho Foze, MP, Sh. Ritu Barman Sarmah, Vice Chairman, AMPRTON, Sh. Syeddin Abbasi, Additional Chief Secretary, Sh. Rajaraman, former Secretary, Deptt. Of Telecom, GoI, and senior officers of all North East States