Go for Wi-Fi led solution

By Naresh Ajwani, Managing Director, Vihaan Networks Ltd. (Shyam Group)

The Government of India’s National Optics Fiber Network (NOFN) Project aims to cover 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats in India. It is important to discourage duplication of rural infrastructure not simply because it is expensive but because viable alternatives exist. Convergence of technologies and services can be exploited to substantially reduce the cost and free up resources for other urgent obligations/tasks and programs. India has a unique opportunity to exploit telecom convergence to transform the lives and livelihoods of rural communities. NOFN can be an invaluable platform for empowerment, if emerging powerful technologies can be used to expand connectivity from the Panchayats to end users. In brief, NOFN can be the game changer for India. The $4 bn investment of the government can be augmented to $40 bn with deployment of innovative last mile platform targeted at rural communities.

For most of us, especially in the cities, it is virtually impossible to imagine a world without technology such as phones, computers or television; and when they come together, the effect is dramatic. One can access internet on phone, watch TV on computer, make calls on computer and so on. It is easy to see how this coming together of technologies or convergence, as it is called, has transformed our lives at home, work or even while we are on the move. Rural communities not only need this convergence of technology but even bigger ‘pipes’ since they depend heavily on ‘video’ to overcome the challenges of illiteracy and many other things.

However, in rural India, the mobile operators have not been able to justify incurring the remaining CAPEX and OPEX costs to deliver access.

Their roll-outs are primarily limited to national highways. Thus, NOFN’s 100 mbps pipes reaching Gram Panchayats can be used to extend voice and data coverage to unconnected populations and areas with a sustainable Bharat Model, a pay-per-use solution. It would circumvent the current challenge of viability facing mobile operators and lack of footprint of mobile services in rural inhabitant locations.

For this, Wi-Fi offers immense value as an access technology in view of its high speeds, lower cost and use of unlicensed spectrum, a perfect recipe of quality and cost effectiveness of the Bharat Model of rural connectivity. For voice, a solution of small GSM BTS supported by renewable energy can be added to Wi-Fi deployments. The solution can also integrate other elements like renewable energy to deal with power shortages in rural areas. The solution can also be combined with infrastructure such as Common Service Centers (CSCs), Cash Transfer Schemes through smart ATMs and vital disaster management services-IPAS, etc. The solution can start with Wi-Fi-based broadband connectivity for population at the bottom of the pyramid. Other elements can be added later, based on needs. This is one sure way of taking broadband to the actual end user and thereby getting more and more people on the broadband bandwagon. Notably, the impact such a measure could have on the national GDP needn’t be accentuated.

Wi-Fi to Hi-Fi 

With easing of infrastructure bottleneck, several services can be provided to improve governance and security. This will then reduce further cost and efforts involved in setting up other physical infrastructure and basic amenities in rural areas. With WI-FI led Integrated solutions, mobile operators can take their services to rural areas, difficult terrains, etc. much faster since they do not need to erect infrastructure which is expensive and time-consuming.

Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs):  Integrated solution infrastructure can help Village Level Entrepreneur’s (VLE’s) address a key barrier to viability of CSCs by enabling the much needed and potentially revenue generating services. They offer a unique opportunity to VLEs and the communities they serve by enabling them to act as banking correspondents.

Empowerment of Disadvantaged Communities: The integrated solution would be a key enabler of empowerment for under privileged peplpe, including women and the disabled, whose low incomes and mobility pose serious challenges for livelihoods. The solution can provide an approachable, safe and effective place for work and social activities as well as a place for delivering government entitlements. The attractive new opportunity offered by integrated solution is more for women to act as VLEs.

The “Empowerment Line”

A recent report on India by McKinsey Global Institute refers to the Empowerment Line, a new benchmark of demographic development, in contrast to the traditional poverty line. The empowerment line is higher, at around `1,350 per capita per month and envisages a minimum acceptable standard of living through all round development. Nearly 55% of the population is below it. As per the analysis, 75% of this target will be achieved solely through creation of jobs and increasing productivity, and the rest through Government funding. It is imperative, from the numerous examples around the globe, that true leaps in employment, productivity and self reliance have come about only by making the population, including people in the remotest areas aware of their rights, by providing them connectivity and access to information.

The easiest way to do this is through this Wi-fi to Hi-Fi all-encompassing solution. Not only will it aid the productivity component of this progress, but also, it will smoothen the delivery of Govt services and their monitoring right up to the households through direct feedbacks.