India is aiming to establish 5G intelligent villages to eliminate the digital divide, according to Scindia.
New Delhi [India], October 14: Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia emphasized major advancements in the telecom sector, describing a "complete sea transformation" in service delivery for India's 1.4 billion citizens during the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit 2024 in New Delhi on Monday.
Scindia praised the success of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), noting, "In August, we processed transactions totaling USD 275 billion in a month, with 15 billion transactions in India. We've achieved the fastest 5G rollout globally, completing it in just 22 months and covering 98 percent of India's districts, reaching 80 percent of our population."
He also mentioned the upcoming transition from 4G to 5G, stating, "We will be the sixth country to make this switch. Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to the US was a landmark event, and I believe both India and the US are advancing together to enhance our technological capabilities."
Scindia further highlighted the transformative impact of telecom in democratizing access to information and resources. He remarked, "Telecom eliminates intermediaries, empowering individuals with access to ideas. Currently, we have around 140,000 government-funded startups in India, including over 100 unicorns, and we expect even more growth with the introduction of 5G."
He added, "The government has initiated various innovative projects, including the establishment of 5G intelligent villages. We have identified 10 to 12 villages where we will implement 5G technology, as our goal is to close, not just bridge, the digital divide."
Ryan Roslansky, CEO of LinkedIn, addressed the rapid evolution of job skills due to technological advancements. He stated, "As we navigate this technological shift, particularly with the increasing role of AI, our work, lives, and interactions are changing."
He pointed out, "In India, the skills required for the same job title have evolved by 40 percent since 2015, and we anticipate that will increase to 70 percent by 2030. Whether or not you're changing jobs, your current job is undergoing significant changes right now."