Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the International Telecommunication Union’s new regional office and Innovation Center in India on Wednesday (March 22) at around 12:30 pm at an event at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. During the event, the Prime Minister will unveil the Bharat 6G Vision Document (Drishti Patra) and also launch the 6G Research and Development Center. Along with this, Prime Minister Modi will also launch the ‘Call Before You Dig’ app. The Prime Minister will also address a gathering on the occasion.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations’ specialized body for information and communications technology (ICT). Its headquarters is located in Geneva. It is a network of Regional Offices, Zonal Offices and State Offices. India had signed a host country agreement with the International Telecommunication Union in March 2022 for setting up a regional office.
The regional office in India envisages an innovation center associated with it, making it unique among other regional offices of the International Telecommunication Union. The regional office is fully funded by India. It is located on the second floor of the Center for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) building in Mehrauli, New Delhi. It will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Iran and will enhance coordination among the nations and promote mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.
What is Bharat 6-G Vision Document?
The Bharat 6-G vision document has been prepared by the Technology Innovation Group on 6G ((TIG-6G)). The group was constituted in November 2021 with members from various ministries/departments, research and development institutions, academia, standardization bodies, telecom service providers and industry to develop an action plan and road map for 6G service in India I went.
The 6-G test center will provide a platform to academic institutions, industry, start-ups, MSMEs, industry etc. to test and validate emerging ICT technologies. The India 6-G Vision Document and 6-G Test Center will provide an enabling environment for innovation, capacity building and rapid technology adoption in the country.
Call before you dig app will have these benefits
Exemplifying the Prime Minister’s vision of integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects under PM Gati Shakti, the Call Before You Dig (CBUD) app is a tool to disorganize underlying assets such as optical fiber cables. Envisaged to prevent damage caused due to excavation and mining. This causes a loss of about 3000 crore rupees to the country every year.
The mobile app Call Before You Dig will connect excavators and asset owners through SMS/email notification and click to call, for planned excavation in the country while ensuring the safety of underground assets. The CBUD will benefit all stakeholders by bringing reforms in the ease of doing business by adopting the ‘Whole-of-Government Approach’ in the governance of the country. This will save potential business losses due to lesser disruption of essential services like road, telecom, water, gas and electricity and reduce the inconvenience caused to citizens.
Information Technology/Telecom Ministers, Secretary General and other senior officials of ITU from various regional offices of ITU, Heads of UN and other international bodies in India, Ambassadors, Industry leaders, Start-ups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), representatives from academia, students and other stakeholders will participate.
