The seventh edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023 began on Friday with the inauguration of Prime Minister Modi at the Bharat Mandap. This year’s event centered around the theme of Global Digital Innovation, with exhibitors showcasing the latest technology in satellite communications, 6G demos and other use cases.
Dignitaries like Akash Ambani, Chairman – Reliance Jio, Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, and Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla attended the inaugural session of IMC 2023 on the first day of the event. Unlike last year, where the 5G rollout announcement was a big draw for the event, this year, we saw multiple demo sessions and other key announcements, which we’ll cover in this article, making major headlines.
100 5G Labs
The first major announcement was the establishment of 100 5G labs across India to promote students, professors, startups and MSMEs to work on 5G technology in health, agriculture, manufacturing and more. These labs will be set up in academic institutions in multiple states including Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Telangana, Karnataka. The names of the institutes have been announced, and they include IIT Guwahati, IIT Silchar, Delhi University of Technology, Jamia Hamdard University, Birla Institute of Technology Mesra and many more.
JioSpaceFiber
At the IMC 2023 event, Reliance Jio made its country debut Satellite-based gigabit broadband service Providing high-speed Internet to previously inaccessible geographic areas. At the event, Jio showed how it is offering internet in four locations, which are remote locations including Gir Gujarat, Korba Chhattisgarh, Nabrangpur Odisha and Jorhat Assam. At this point, there’s no word on when the service will be widely available to users.
Introducing JioSpaceFiber, India’s first gigabit satellite connection 🛰. Visit Jio Pavilion at India Mobile Congress 2023 to know more. #JioAtIMC # Geo #JioSpaceFiber #IMC2023 pic.twitter.com/V62cwUF4u7
— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) October 27, 2023
Reliance Jio showcased Jio Glass, a mixed-reality handset, at IMC 2023. Announced at the company’s 43rd Annual General Meeting, Jio Glass was available for demo paired with a OnePlus Nord smartphone. We tried it briefly for a few minutes, and it seemed decent.
6G Sensing Demo
Nokia presented a demo of its 6G network, which could act as a Radar and sense objects, people and movement without compromising privacy, this situational awareness will give individuals a digital 6th sense, enabling them to gather information about their surroundings, look around and even interact with objects from a distance. Nokia demonstrated a live demonstration of this 6G sensing capability using prototype radio equipment. The company also highlighted its collaboration with Alstom to provide a private wireless network for its Smart and Secure Railway Network (NCRTC) and (NCRTC) Delhi to Meerut RRTS. It is claimed to be the world’s first LTE/4.9G private wireless network that supports European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 signaling. The dedicated private network enables trains to continuously report their exact direction and position using radio signals to receive traffic authorities and ensure the safety of all on board. Low-emission RRTS will transport more people at an average speed of 100 kmph, reducing travel time and road congestion.
Redcap technology demo
Reduced Capability (RedCap) solutions aim to reduce complexity and extend device battery life while providing higher data rates/speeds. RedCap is a new radio access network (RAN) software solution from Ericsson that creates new 5G use cases and enables more 5G connectivity from devices such as smartwatches, other wearables, industrial sensors and AR/VR devices. At IMC 2023, Ericsson and Airtel partnered with Qualcomm to showcase the capabilities of Reduced Capability (RedCap) devices. Earlier this month, Ericsson’s pre-commercial Reduced Capacity (RedCap) software was successfully tested on the Airtel 5G network.
How Airtel is solving network problems with AI
Airtel’s A-SON solution isn’t a new proposition, but a demo of how it works in one region attracted us. Airtel claims that its AI-powered Self Optimizing Network or A-SON is redefining the network experience. The system detects anomalies and resolves them with AI without any manual intervention. The solution is designed to ensure that future issues Airtel networks face and the team address them early. Notably, the solution is entirely designed by Airtel and was first launched in March 2022.
Additionally, Airtel has also demonstrated how its Extreme AirFiber works in areas where it has no fiber or broadband connectivity. Currently, the service is available in selected regions like Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Noida.
In addition to showcasing live 5G experiences at IMC 2023, Vi showcased various use cases for enterprise, consumer and community development, highlighting the technology and the huge potential of 5G.
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