Digital Isolation

As the world moves towards embracing 5G technology, several rural areas of J&K are still grappling with the challenges of ensuring full 4G coverage. The slow pace of progress in 4G saturation, as highlighted by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo during a review meeting, calls for a need to prioritize 4G connectivity. 4G technology has played a crucial role globally, particularly in remote and rural areas. Its widespread availability has enabled access to crucial services, including healthcare, education, e-governance and financial inclusion. In rural economies, reliable 4G connectivity can fuel entrepreneurship by providing digital platforms for e-commerce and access to global markets. Furthermore, during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, 4G has enabled rural populations to stay connected, access telemedicine services, and continue education through online platforms. For regions like J&K, which are characterized by difficult terrain and infrastructural challenges, 4G is the digital backbone that facilitates integration with the rest of the country. It is essential for the smooth implementation of various e-governance initiatives and welfare schemes, providing the residents of remote areas with the same opportunities available to urban dwellers. Despite the critical role that 4G plays in rural development, the saturation of 4G coverage in J&K has been slow. The Chief Secretary’s remarks highlight several issues, such as delays in the erection of towers, availability of electricity connections, and land allotments. J&K’s complex topography, with mountainous regions and remote villages, adds layers of difficulty to infrastructure development. The installation of mobile towers and the provision of electricity to these sites have faced hurdles that impede timely completion. As revealed in the meeting, the work on over 711 sites is ongoing, but challenges like land feasibility and power availability are slowing down progress. Addressing these bottlenecks is essential to ensuring that the remaining uncovered villages gain access to 4G services. Without full 4G saturation, the region risks deepening the digital divide, with rural areas falling further behind urban centers that are ready to adopt 5G. While 5G promises lightning-fast speeds, low latency, and enhanced connectivity for advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous systems, and smart cities, its immediate relevance to rural areas remains limited. The primary reason for this is that 5G infrastructure requires more dense networks of towers and small cells, which are economically unfeasible to install in sparsely populated rural regions at this stage. For rural areas, 4G is still the most viable option for widespread connectivity. It provides a significant upgrade over earlier generations of mobile networks and meets the needs of rural populations, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare, and local business. The efforts to saturate 4G in J&K are part of a broader strategy to ensure digital connectivity in remote areas. The Chief Secretary’s meeting emphasized the importance of clearing all pending issues and fast-tracking the completion of ongoing projects. This push for accelerated work on the 4G saturation project is crucial, as many rural areas in J&K continue to face digital isolation.