Govt keen on interoperable Wi-Fi network: DoT Secretary

‘India can leapfrog with the right investment in digital infrastructure’

Broadband will have a far bigger impact on India compared to other countries, said Aruna Sundararjan, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Chairperson, Digital Communications Commission. She was speaking at the launch of the Broadband India Forum’s (BIF) White Paper on de-licensing of spectrum in the 5Ghz band.

Sundararajan said that the government hopes to deploy an interoperable Wi-Fi network. “If the interoperable Wi-Fi architecture comes in, the cost of devices will be driven down,” she said, observing that this will also boost the Internet of Things ecosystem.

The government, in October last year, freed spectrum in the 5Ghz band for public Wi-Fi and 5G. Sundararajan also cited an earlier BIF study that said India’s GDP could expand 3.3 per cent if there is a 10 per cent increase in the use of mobile apps.