Infra for 5G rollout: GatiShakti Sanchar for RoW nod launched (UPSC Current Affair)

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Why in the news?

Recently, the Union Minister of information and technology has launched the GatiShakti Sanchar portal that aims to accelerate approvals for laying of fiber and tower installations, ahead of the 5G roll-out in the country.

What is GatiShakti Sanchar Portal?

• GatiShakti Sanchar Portal” is a collaborative institutional mechanism between all stakeholders.
• The Stakeholders are: Central and State/UT Government(s), Local bodies, and Service Providers to facilitate the Right of Way (RoW) Application Process through a single interface.
• This portal envisages to bring transparency, accountability and responsiveness to all stakeholders while processing the application.
• This has been a step towards improving “Ease of Doing Business” as the application process for installation of Digital Infrastructure is being delayed due to inconsistency and uncertainty of policy and process.
• GatiShakti Portal will provide a robust mechanism to achieve the goal of “Broadband to All” as envisaged in the National Digital Communication Policy-2018.

What are the Features of Portal?

• GatiShakti Sanchar Portal will enable applicants from Telecom Services Providers (TSPs), Infrastructure Providers (IPs), Internet Services Providers (ISPs) etc. to apply for RoW approvals for laying Optical Fiber Cables (OFC) and erecting Telecom infrastructures like Towers etc. to submit their applications to various agencies of State/UT Governments and local bodies.
• To assist users, it will provide customer support services to RoW applicants and other stakeholders.
• the GatiShakti Sanchar Portal to be integrated with Central ROW Portals of central Ministries/departments in the future.
• For effective monitoring the dashboard of the portal gives pendency status – overall, State wise and district wise.

What are the Advantages ?

For Telecom Service Providers, ISPs and other establishments who need to obtain RoW permissions from State Government will be benefitted:

• In one site, you may apply for RoW permission in any Indian state.
• Application disposal status is tracked centrally.
• Alerts sent automatically when application processing changes
• Availability of a centralized help desk
• Applications will be approved more quickly since the Communications Ministry will monitor their status.
• Faster delivery of services such as 5G, tower fiberization, and broadband connectivity to citizens and institutions.

For Government - Union and State

• Another step in the direction of making doing business easier.
• Quick approvals will result in more OFC being laid, perhaps speeding up the process. Fiberization
• Increasing the density of towers will increase connection and service quality.
• Telecom towers are becoming more fiberized, resulting in greater service. Broadband download speeds
• Telecom towers are becoming more fiberized, resulting in greater service. Broadband download speeds
• All settlements will have access to broadband.
• Hospitals, police stations, panchayat offices, schools and colleges, and anganwadis will all have broadband access.
• Broadband will make it easier to supply e-Government services in rural regions, such as e-Health, e-Education, e-Commerce, and cashless transactions.

What is 5G Technology?

• 5G is the fifth-generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks, which cellular phone operators began using globally in 2019. It is intended to replace the 4G networks that connect the majority of today's handsets.
• 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together which include machines, objects and devices.

Visible effect of 5G technology is Internet speeds which in the high-band spectrum is as high as 20 Gbps, however in most cases, the maximum internet data speed in 4G has been recorded at 1 Gbps.

When is the Commercial Rollout of 5G technology in India?

The Ministry of Information and Technology has targeted the commercial rollout of 5G services in August.

What are the Applications of 5G?

• Enhanced mobile internet : with increased mobile internet speed 5G mobile technology can create new immersive experiences such as Virtual reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) with faster, more uniform high data speed , lower latency, and lower cost-per-bit.
• Mission-Critical Communications: With ultra-reliable, accessible, low-latency networks, 5G can enable new services that can alter sectors, such as tele control of key infrastructure, automobiles, and medical operations.
• Massive Internet of Things: 5G is designed to connect a vast number of embedded sensors in nearly anything by allowing data speeds, power, and mobility to be scaled down, resulting in incredibly lean and low-cost connectivity solutions.
• 5G might be a key facilitator of the Fourth Industrial Revolution when combined with IoT, Cloud Computing, Big Data Analytics, AI and Edge Computing.

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