Trai & Samsung’s public safety broadband network pipedreams

Despite a global move to open, dedicated broadband networks for rescue efforts, India still relies on a fragmented, archaic system that allows for just voice. India’s telecom regulator wants to change this, but will debt-ridden telcos play ball?

Samsung is encouraging the Indian government to modernise its public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) network

While countries like South Korea and the US have shifted to nationwide broadband networks with Samsung’s help, India lags behind

India’s telecom regulator has already suggested spectrum—two blocks in the 800 MHz band—for the same

Telcos, however, are reluctant to play ball. Saddled with a collective debt of over $56 billion, they aren’t keen on additional expenses

When it comes to natural disasters, India is one of the worst affected countries globally. Not just financially—where it’s among the top five worst affected—but also in terms of human casualties. In the recent monsoon flooding that affected multiple Indian states, over 1,600 people lost their lives.

With countries increasingly prone to natural disasters in an increasingly climate change-affected world, prevention may not be possible.

AUTHOR

Pratap Vikram Singh

Pratap is based out of Delhi and covers policy and myriad intersections with the other sectors, most notably technology. He has worked with Governance Now for seven years, reporting on technology, telecom policy, and the social sector.

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