IMC an opportunity to contribute to Digital India, global digitization: COAI Director General

Director General of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) Rajan S Mathews on Monday said that the India Mobile Congress 2017 will laid an opportunity for India to contribute to global digitization, as well as fuel the Centre's 'Digital India' drive.

Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the press conference ahead of the main event, which is to begin on September 27 at Pragati Maidan here, Rajan opined that issues like digitisation, technology improvement, and the use of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT) and so on would take center stage.

"The Congress is one that brings the industry together under one roof, thus enabling the creation of an opportunity for India to contribute to the global digital drive. Indian consumers are also looking forward to using new technology like Virtual Reality, augmented reality, automated vehicles and so on. Given our low tariff rates, infrastructural drawback and other obstacles, we need to say what best can be done to realize the Digital India mission," he said.

Further, with regards to call drops, Rajan highlighted that many pockets of India lack adequate mobile towers, which proves to be a problem in the long run. He added that new technologies are being explored, including an opportunity to manufacture fibers in India itself.

Responding to the recent slash in the interconnect usage charge (IUC) from 14 paise minute to six paise per minute by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Rajan stated that the matter is a bilateral issue between operators, which needs to be internally sorted.

However, Rajan, on behalf of the COAI stated that the authorities need to be completely transparent and clarify to regulators why they have chosen the current model.

"We mainly demand clarity and transparency," he said.

IMC 2017 is jointly organised by the COAI and K AND D Communications Ltd. This first of its kind event is supported by the Ministry of Communication (Department of Telecommunications), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Skill Development and Entrepreneurship amongst others.

The event, will include a conclave, an exhibition and an awards ceremony, and will also see thematic pavilions and innovation zones, spread across 15,000 square meters, featuring 300 exhibitors from ICT, TMT as well as the Government sector, Embassies and States. The International event would attract more than 500 start-ups, 2,000 delegates from India and other countries making 1,50,000 footfalls.