New Delhi:  India Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, March 22, unveiled Bharat's 6G Vision Document and also  inaugurated the new International Telecommunication Union  Area office and Innovation Centre.

Prime Minister also launched the 6G Reserach and Development Test Bed and the 'CALL BEFORE U DIG' App.

Addressing the event the Prime Minister said: "One of India's top priorities as the G-20's current president is closing the regional gap. It is only normal to expect India to play a major role in closing the technical gap." Also, the Prime Minister asserted that "telecom technology is empowering our countrymen in India" during the ceremony.

The Prime Minister noted that India has had a sharp increase in the proportion of internet users in rural regions in recent years, saying "it illustrates the potential of Digital India."

The Technology Innovation Group on 6G (TIG-6G), which was established in November 2021 with members from various Ministries/Departments, research and development organisations, academic institutions, standardisation bodies, telecom service providers, and industry, is creating the Bharat 6G Vision Document. Its goal is to create a roadmap and action plans for 6G in India.

The 6G Testbed will offer a platform for testing and validating developing ICT technologies to organisations like academic institutions, businesses, start-ups, and MSMEs, among others. The Bharat 6G Vision Document and 6G Testbed will also create an atmosphere that encourages innovation, builds capacity, and speeds up the adoption of technology in the nation.

The Call Before You Dig (CBuD) app is a technology designed to stop damage to underlying assets, such as optical fibre cables, which results from unplanned digging and excavation and costs millions of crores of rupees annually. Using SMS/Email notifications and click-to-call functionality, the mobile app CBuD will link excavators and asset owners to inform them of planned excavations across the nation while protecting the security of subsurface assets.

ITU is the specialised information and communications technology agency of the United Nations (ICTs). It has a network of field offices, regional offices, and area offices with its main office in Geneva.

In March 2022, India and the ITU agreed to a Host Country Agreement for the opening of an Area Office. The Area Office in India also planned to incorporate an Innovation Center, making it distinct from other ITU area offices.

The Area Office is housed in the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) building in Mehrauli, New Delhi, and is entirely sponsored by India. It will benefit countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Afghanistan, and Iran, encouraging regional economic cooperation and improving international coordination.

PM Modi greets people at start of traditional New Year Chaitra Navratri

PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Japan PM Kishida, Thanking for G7 summit invite

India PM's popularity spreads to China; Modi nicknamed 'The Immortal' by netizens