Raphael Warjri

Minister, DoNER Sh. G. Kishan Reddy today virtually inaugurated 5G
Applications in 7 NER States (Other than Arunachal Pradesh) and 5G
Experience Centre here in Tech City, Bongora, Guwahati. This inauguration is
in continuation of the vision set by Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi in the
Golden Jubilee of North Eastern Council. Prime Minister during his address to
NEC in its Golden Jubilee Celebrations held on 18 th December, 2022
emphasised to capitalize on ‘Asht Lakshmi’ (Goddess of Wealth) Govt. should
work on 8 foundation pillars for the development of entire NE Region in which
one of the major pillars emphasised was 5G connectivity of digital connectivity
for job creation, attaining other socio-economic developmental goals and
meeting the SDG 2030 targets in NER.

This project is being executed by AMTRON in collaboration with various
Government Agencies like Ministry of DoNER, Department of
Telecommunications, Telecom Sector Skill Council, School of Planning &
Architecture, New Delhi; Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung
Hospital, New Delhi; Design Innovation Center, UIET, Panjab University,
ALIMCO, a PSU of Ministry of Social Justice & Development, Government of
India. All this while, NEC took the lead in providing the guidance and
coordination.

Speaking on the occasion, Sh. G. Kishan Reddy said that under the
dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi India's digital
economy has surged exponentially with phenomenal rise in online activities for
day-to-day life which has already put India well ahead of some of the world's
largest economies. Services such as Aadhar, United Payments Interface (UPI)
and Digilocker have been instrumental in unlocking potential in India's internet
economy. Based on this vision, North Eastern Council, Ministry of DoNER has
100% funded the rolled out India’s first 5G Training Labs and 5G Health Use
Case applications on large scale across all 8 NE States.

Complimenting all the stakeholders involved in the project particularly
NEC, MDoNER, AMTRON, the 8 NE State Governments, DoT, TSSC, SPA-
Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, Punjab University and ALIMCO, Sh. G.
Kishan Reddy said that the initiative would prove a game changer with same
approach taking to different sectors. When replicated in other parts of the
country, it would establish that working and collaborating together brings out
the best results.

Reddy revealed that this project had been completed across all 8 States in
a record time of around 75 days which is a record for any project of North
Eastern Council under the policy of “Act First & Fast for North East”. The
project includes four major components; which includes 5G Training Labs one
in each State of North East and a cloud supported MOOC Courses on 5G and
TSSC (Telecom Sector Skill Council) which successfully imparted Master
Trainers for 5G Labs. The users can experience the power of Edge computing
wherein the speed of internet downloading of study materials can be
experienced live at the 5G Labs established in each of the 8 NE States. The
locations of these 5G Labs are in all 8 States in various Institutions and at Tech
City of AMTRON. The Minister expressed hope that the 5G Labs would help
the youth from North East to gain skills relevant in Industry 4.0 and take
optimal advantage of fruits of knowledge economy which could help NE to
improve many of its gaps in SDG 2030 Goals.

Elaborating upon 5G Health Use Cases Sh. G. Kishan Reddy said that the
use cases primary showcase solutions for “Ease of Living” and have profound
effect on improving the quality of large scale preventive community healthcare
screening and reducing out of pocket expenses for common man which is a
huge burden in Hilly States of North East. The Mobile ECG application shall
also help prevent avoidable deaths since cardiac deaths are the highest killer in
India in NCD Sector. The 5G Health Use Case applications will be based on a
revenue model in order to sustain and grow. Our initial study has indicated that
the overall cost to the patients, users, start-ups, entrepreneurs, engineers,
teachers and general citizens will be fairly lower than the present facilities
available for the same facilities at higher and often much higher costs.
Minister of DoNER told that the Health Applications deployed at
different Hospitals and locations included Diabetic Retinopathy, AR /VR Based
Anatomy Learning Models, Imaging Device combining AI (Artificial
Intelligence) to detect and classify bacteria on wounds, Stroke Prognostics:
Monitoring Brain Function in Stroke Management, AI Based Cataract Analysis
Using Smart Phones, AI Technology for Respiratory Health Through
Audiometric Analysis of Cough Sounds, AI Based Medical Image Analysis
Over Cloud for better clinical decision making, AI Based Drip Monitoring For
IPD Patients by Attending Nurses and Mobile / Cloud Based ECG Solution (30
Units In each spoke state and 16 Units In Assam).

Sh. G. Kishan Reddy said that 5G was equally significant for cane and
bamboo artisans and was being executed in association with School of Planning
& Architecture, New Delhi. 5G Experience Centre in Guwahati would enable
Private 5G Network in Experience Center including 5G Lab & Training Center,
Central control of MOOC courses, Health use case demo, Locomotor Challenge
IoT Based Assessment, IoT based diagnostic kiosk/kit and Senior Citizen IoT
Healthcare services, he said.

Minister of State, MDoNER Sh. B.L. Verma in his address expressed
happiness over the launch of 5G Applications in the NER with the hub at
AMPTRON at Guwahati. He said that under the visionary and dynamic
leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is advancing towards a
futuristic future in what is termed under Amrit Kaal. India’s recognition as the
‘Pharmacy of the World’ provides an opportune moment for us to assume
leadership in technological innovation, research, and manufacturing, aiming to
become a global pioneer in these sectors. Our objective is self-reliance in
medical and IT industries, aligning seamlessly with the vision of Atmanirbhar
Bharat and “Make in India, Make for the World.”
Sh. B.L. Verma told that the Digital India Stack has become a global
benchmark, providing a competitive advantage for businesses. The widespread
adoption of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Production Linked Incentives
(PLI) for different sectors, Pradhan Mantri Digital Saksharta Abhiyan
(PMGDISA) fostering digital literacy, Bharat Net Project, MyScheme,Unified
Mobile Application for New-Age Governance (UMANG), and 'Bhashini', UPI,
CoWIN, e-RUPI, TReDS, DigiLocker, Account Aggregators, ONDC, and
OCEN, etc makes India's digital transformation a compelling success story.
Sh. Verma congratulated the Ministry of DoNER, the North Eastern
Council, AMTRON, and all North Eastern states as a whole for launching
India's first 5G Training Labs and 5G Health Use Case applications across all
eight North Eastern states. He urged all to shape the future with 5G technology
together and develop our Ashtalakshmi states as trendsetters for progress in the
digital age.

Detailing about the objectives of the project Sh. Ramendra Narayan
Kalita, Chairman, AMPTRON said under the project, one 5G Training Labs in
each of the 8 NE states had been commissioned. Presently, we have specific use
cases for healthcare in preventing avoidable cardiac deaths, geriatrics care
solution and low-cost diagnostics, Education in improving access to Digital
Education Data and Artisans with immersive online experience to increase
outreach of consumers.

Sh. Chanchal Kumar, Secretary, MDoNER said in his address that 5G has
the potential not only to spark a digital revolution but also impact the future of
work and increase productivity. Crucially, the technology is expected to drive
the engine of economic growth across all sectors. The massive usage of
different mobile apps and e-platform owe their backbone to robust 4G Infra in
India. The first-hand experience of the customers should have on how their day-
to-day challenges are solved. He said that various states including Kerala and
J&K are showing keen interest in this technology. A massive utilization of 5G
Application should be ensured with the help of IIT, Guwahati to uplift the entire
NER and provide efficient services.

Sh. K. Moses Chalai while welcoming the audience briefed about the
NEC funded 5G Applications in NRE with hub at AMPTRON, Guwahati
established at a cost of Rs. 14.96 Crore and implemented by Assam Electronics
Corporation Ltd, Govt. of Assam Undertaking under the guidance of Prime
inister Sh. Narendra Modi and MDoNER Sh. G. Kishan Reddy. It would help in
local HR Capacity Building Through 5G Labs & MOOC Courses, Deployment
of Locally Relevant 5G Use Cases. The project would showcase on a Pilot Scale
thematic use cases healthcare, improved access to Digital Educational Content,
Bamboo and Cane Artisans and Crafts Persons and Agriculture Use Cases,
he added.
A video display of the 5G Applications deployed in eight NER States
was, also, presented on the occasion.

Vote of thanks was presented by S. Narang Pawar, Managing Director,
AMPTRON.

Various dignitaries those present online and offline included Sh. Pema
Khandu, CM, Sikkim, Sh. Alo Libang, Health Minister, Arunachal, Health
Minister of Meghalaya Dr. Ampareen Lynndoh, Sh. Lorho Foze, MP, Sh. Ritu
Barman Sarmah, Vice Chairman, AMPRTON, Sh. Syeddin Abbasi, Additional
Chief Secretary, Sh. Rajaraman, former Secretary, Deptt. Of Telecom, GoI, and
senior officers of all North East States.