Key Points

It may be noted that, in synchrony with BSNL's silver jubilee year, the initiative to inaugurate the 4G network will ensure that all mobile towers, optical fibre, and related components of India's mobile network will now be manufactured in India by Indians.

At the beginning of the programme, Chief Minister Sarma, together with Union Minister Scindia and Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, paid tributes to Zubeen Garg.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to build a self-reliant India through the use of indigenous products in everyday life.

He said that some years ago, the Prime Minister entrusted the Department of Telecommunications, BSNL, and the Tata Group with the responsibility of indigenizing mobile towers, optical fibre, and related equipment.

He emphasised that indigenous means made entirely in India, without importing any component from outside. He called the launch of the 4G network under the Prime Minister's leadership a matter of pride.

He also stated that, as a result of the efforts of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, 92,633 new 4G towers have been installed across the country.

The Chief Minister said that only four countries in the world have developed such an indigenous 4G mobile network.

"With the launch of this indigenous 4G network by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, India has become the fifth country to hold its own network, technology, and materials," the Chief Minister said.

Thanking Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for his presence in Assam on this historic occasion, the Chief Minister informed that BSNL would soon upgrade its indigenous 4G network to 5G and by 2030, to 6G.

He moreover said that BSNL would set up data centres in five locations across India, one of which will be established in Guwahati.

"Construction has already begun on several data centres at the IT Park near Borjhar Airport. These centres will create local employment opportunities, allowing educated youth of Assam to work within the state instead of moving to cities like Bengaluru," he said.

The Chief Minister noted that during Advantage Assam 2.0, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had promised a 5G lab at Gauhati University, which has now become a reality.

He said that just as Prime Minister Modi indigenised BSNL's entire mobile network, he has also launched a large-scale mission to manufacture chips used in computers, mobiles, and vehicles within India. The Tata Group, operating the semiconductor unit at Jagiroad, Assam, is rapidly emerging as a major hub in India's semiconductor sector.

He emphasised that, whether in data centres or semiconductors, Prime Minister Modi and Union Minister Scindia have positioned Assam as a nerve centre of technology.

Highlighting Assam's integration with the Swadeshi network, Sarma stated that the development will enable the state to lead the country in technological self-reliance.

On the occasion of BSNL's 25th anniversary, the Chief Minister, along with the Union Minister, released the commemorative booklet titled Sanchar Charika.

Union Minister for Communications and DoNER Jyotiraditya Scindia, Assam's Minister for Information and Technology Keshab Mahanta, MPs Dilip Saikia and Bijuli Kalita Medhi, Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, BSNL CMD A. Robert Jerard Ravi, BSNL Enterprise Business Director Sudhakararao Papa, senior officials, and other dignitaries attended the event.

- ANI