16 May 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

16 May 2024 PIB
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. World Telecommunication and Information Society Day
2. World Hydrogen Summit 2024

1. World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

Syllabus: GS-3, Science and technology; Economy

Prelims: World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

Context:

17 May is observed as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

About World Telecommunication and Information Society Day:

• World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969, marking the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865.
• The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in March 2006 stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on 17 May.
• In November 2006, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, decided to celebrate both events on 17 May as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
• 17 May marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) can bring to societies and economies, as well as ways to bridge the digital divide.
• World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024 theme: Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development.

Indian Telecom Sector:

• The Indian telecom sector has witnessed significant developments in recent years.
• Today India has a 99% coverage footprint in 4G with over 6 lakh villages covered in 4G and around 4.42 lakh 5G BTS.
• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is also establishing strategic international partnerships and collaborations to build a world-class telecom ecosystem to enhance global connectivity and position India as a global leader in digital innovation and infrastructure.
  • The ‘US-India OpenRAN Acceleration Roadmap’ was formalised to foster OpenRAN adoption and mutual trust for trusted suppliers. 
  • Partnerships with tech companies like Qualcomm resulted in finalising MOUs for access to chips for startups through C-DOT. 
  • Support to 100 5G labs for developing use cases was also secured during the visits to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona.
  • Collaboration with the FCC and NSF of the USA enabled India to start a dialogue on international best practices in spectrum allocation, quality of service assurance, and future tech research. 
  • India showcased CDoT’s solutions, especially the Cell broadcast and the QKD solutions to the World Bank and Mauritius, indicating potential deployment in other countries
  • At the World Radio Conference, held in Dubai in Dec 2023, India was able to secure benefits for her telecom and space sectors such as the use of 6 GHZ mid-band spectrum for IMT, ensuring that the Indian NAVIC – GPS system is protected from the other operators in the region, etc.
• Telecom exports:
  • The gap between imports and exports has decreased in recent years. 
  • Most of the 5G demands are being met from Made in India. 
  • Indian companies exported Rs 25200 crores worth of telecom equipment and accessories in 2023.
• Research and academia:
  • The DoT explored potential collaborations in Quantum Networks and Quantum Teleportation with the University of Chicago to elevate R&D, foster innovation, and fortify the startup ecosystem in Quantum Communications within India. 
  • A quantum teleportation link between the US and India is being explored.

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