From digital transactions to faster 5G deployments and internet access itself, Bharat is having a real blast in this tech-ade. The government has a set target of connecting all Indians to the internet by 2025, largely through broadband of Bharat Net. Further simplifying cyber-law for ease of doing business and focusing on high technology like Quantum Computing and Artificial intelligence are also on the agenda.

On the other hand, the recent amendments made in the Right of Way (RoW) rules for telecom infrastructure are

set to expedite the 5G rollout in the country. The latest amendments offer a single application for multiple small cell sites and allow telecoms to set up temporary over-ground telegraph infrastructure when their existing underground infrastructure is damaged. The amendments also offer other relaxations. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), whose members include Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea, etc., commented on the amendments, mentioning that the new provisions would aid in restoring telegraph services on priority, thus preventing major disruptions in services to the users.

According to a report by insights and consulting company Kantar, India will have over 900 million internet users by 2025, driving more than 500 million digital transactions. The report also predicts that more than 87 percent of Indian households will have at least one internet user by 2025. It is beyond any reasonable doubt that telecom operators in India have fantastic days ahead of them. In this special issue, we feature stories from India’s telecom industry.
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