The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently made headlines when it announced an Expression of Interest (EoI) for its “5G Vertical Engagement and Partnership Program (VEPP).” This initiative aims to foster robust collaborative partnerships within the ecosystem of 5G Use-case stakeholders.
Understanding 5G Technology
5G, referring to fifth-generation mobile networks, represents a significant technological leap from its predecessors – the 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G systems. This new global wireless standard is designed to facilitate connectivity virtually everywhere by integrating machines, objects, and devices.
A unique feature of 5G technology lies in its internet speed capabilities. Tests conducted in the high-band spectrum of 5G have yielded speeds reaching a peak of 20 Gbps (gigabits per second). On the other hand, 4G’s maximum recorded internet data speed has been significantly less, topping off at 1 Gbps.
Exploring the 5G VEPP Initiative
The 5G VEPP initiative is a concerted effort by the DoT to streamline various processes such as approvals, regulatory clearances, enabling use case prototyping, pilots, demos, and trials at the participating user or vertical industry premises. The DoT will also provide access to experimental spectrum and testbeds, while fostering engagement with academia and other ministries regarding necessary regulatory policies and pilots, when feasible.
Participating technology stakeholders will collaborate on the development and deployment of prototypes and pilots for 5G use cases. These will be crafted based on the specific needs of the respective ministries or industry verticals, in order to accelerate commercial usage and enterprise adoption.
Objectives of the 5G VEPP Initiative
The primary goal of the 5G VEPP initiative is to nurture powerful collaborative partnerships across 5G Use-case ecosystem stakeholders. It aims to do so rapidly and with a singular focus on addressing the unique needs of each User/Vertical Industry.
Significance of the 5G VEPP Initiative
This initiative underscores the importance of collaboration between User verticals and 5G Tech stakeholders, which include Service providers, Solution providers & partner Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Facilitating such partnerships has the potential to generate a ripple effect in honing and refining digital solutions within their respective economic verticals that are custom-suited for 5G technology.
Engaging in these partnerships will allow industries and users to stay at the cutting edge of their respective fields and cater to the ever-evolving needs of consumers, thereby ensuring business growth and consumer satisfaction.
In conclusion, the Department of Telecommunications’ 5G Vertical Engagement and Partnership Program is a bold endeavor towards embracing the future of communication technology. By encouraging partnerships among the key stakeholders in the 5G ecosystem, it aims to expedite the commercial use and adoption of 5G technology, which could have far-reaching impacts on various industries and the broader economy.
Source: IE