Government offers 5G test bed for free to recognised start-ups, MSMEs till Jan 2024

According to the statement, all 5G stakeholders, including business, academics, service providers, research and development organisations, government entities, and equipment makers, can use this facility for free.

According to an official announcement issued on Monday, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has given free use of a 5G test bed to government-recognized start-ups and MSMEs until January 2024.

According to the statement, all 5G stakeholders, including businesses, academics, service providers, research and development organisations, government entities, and equipment makers, can use this facility for free.

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The action would stimulate the use of the test bed and will help to accelerate the development of indigenous technology and products in keeping with the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision.

According to the announcement, many start-ups and businesses are already using the test bed to test their goods and services.

In March 2018, the Department of Telecommunications granted a Rs 224 crore financial grant for a multi-institute collaborative initiative to set up an “Indigenous 5G Test Bed” in India in response to India’s particular requirements and to take the lead in 5G deployment.

The project’s eight collaborators were IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IISc Bangalore, the Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER), and the Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technologies (CEWiT).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the indigenous 5G test bed to the nation on May 17, 2022.

“The development of this indigenous test bed is a critical milestone step for India’s self-sufficiency in the 5G technology domain, which is now leading to 5G Aatmanirbhar Bharat.””This test bed provides indigenous capability for testing and validation of 5G products developed and manufactured by Indian start-ups, MSME, R&D, academia, and industry users,” according to the press release.

This has produced significant cost savings and decreased design time, allowing Indian 5G devices to become globally competitive.

“The development of this test bed has also resulted in the development of many 5G technologies and IPs that are available for technology transfer to industry players, which shall facilitate the industry players’ smooth and speedy deployment of 5G in India,” the release added.