Carrier Wi-FiEnabling Digital India

Bhuvnesh SachdevaSept 15, 2017

Vision of Digital India

Transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy

“Availability of high speed internet as a core utility for delivery of services to every citizen”

is one of the fundamental areas around which this vision is centered.

Source: digitalindia.gov.in

9 Pillars of Digital India Programme

Source: digitalindia.gov.in

Digital Divide – the Hurdle

Source: worldbank.org

Rural India Urban India

Challenges of Rural India

• Digital literacy and awareness

• Unreliable or unavailable power grid

• Backhaul bandwidth

• High cost of 4G smart phones

• Low battery life of 4G smart phones compared to low cost Wi-Fi enabled feature phone battery that lasts for several days

Wi-Fi comes to Rescue

• With the evolution of home and enterprise Wi-Fi into Carrier Wi-Fi, it is

becoming the choice of technology for last mile Internet connectivity

especially in unconnected villages

• Equally favored by govt. and private telecom operators, ISPs, state and municipal

bodies

What is Carrier Wi-Fi?

• A Wi-Fi network ecosystem exhibiting the following standardized capabilities is

defined* as a Carrier Grade Wi-Fi or simply Carrier Wi-Fi:

• Consistent User Experience

• Network Discovery and Access

• Authentication and Security

• Service Experience

• Fully Integrated End-to-End Network

• Network Architecture

• End-to-End Service Provisioning

• Network Management

• Network Quality

• Network Security

• Network Manageability

* As per Wireless Broadband Alliance Guidelines

Carrier Wi-Fi – Enabling Digital India

• Carrier Wi-Fi is seen a quickest way to achieve Digital India vision

• Primarily due to no spectrum licensing hassles, ease of deployment, lower cost, device

penetration, etc.

• As against 3G and 4G cellular technologies

• Seamlessly integrate with different options for backhaul connectivity including

• Legacy TDM leased line

• Unlicensed Band Radio backhaul

• GPON

• A big push by TEC, BSNL, USOF, DOT and other govt. bodies

• For deploying solar-powered public Wi-Fi hotspots for Internet connectivity in villages

• And providing associated services such as Telemedicine, Smart-classes, Weather Forecasting

System, Public Addressing System, Community Radio, etc.

• Carrier Wi-Fi is also becoming popular among TSPs for Mobile Data Offloading to ease

the pressure on expensive licensed spectrum even in urban areas

Changing vision from basic voice connectivity to real Digital India

Carrier Wi-Fi – Deployment Challenges

• Availability of power in villages

Challenge Solution

Carrier Wi-Fi – Deployment Challenges

• Security of equipment and infrastructure

Challenge No Solution so far

Carrier Wi-Fi – Deployment Challenges

• Availability of reliable backhaul

Challenge

Carrier Wi-Fi – more challenges…

• Terrain

• Growing Foliage

• Sustainable Business model

• Coverage challenges

• “Survey -> Plan -> Deploy -> Verify -> Optimize -> Survey” perpetual cycles

Carrier Wi-Fi – Despite all challenges

A Village of population 35 connected with Solar Powered Wi-Fi

The Happy Outcome – A Digital India

HFCL at a glance

Established in 1987, HFCL has developed expertise in manufacturing of optical fiber cables

and providing High Technology Solutions during its journey of over 30 years in the areas

of Telecom, Railways, Homeland Security and Defence, and Safe and Smart Cities

Thank you