Syllabus
GS Paper 1 – Poverty, Population; Development and associated issues
GS Paper 3 – S&T developments and everyday applications & effects
Context
Mobile connectivity in rural India remains a significant challenge
Source
The Hindu| Editorial dated 3rd July 2024
On improving rural mobile connectivity
The rural-urban divide in mobile connectivity is a significant issue, especially in developing countries like India. This divide reflects disparities in access to mobile networks, which impacts communication, economic opportunities, and digital inclusion.
Mobile Connectivity
- Mobile devices have become an integral part of our daily lives, enabling communication, financial transactions, and Internet connectivity.
- This is made possible through cellular networks, such as 5G, which consist of interconnected network equipment.
- These networks are divided into two sub-networks:
- Access Network (AN) and
- Core Network (CN).
Access Network (AN)
- Base Stations: Provide wireless connectivity to mobile devices within a specific geographical area called the coverage area.
- Deployment: Network operators install base stations across regions to ensure coverage. These stations are typically towers with antennas.
Core Network (CN)
- Functionality: Provides connectivity to other networks, such as the Internet.
- Location: Operates centrally, often far from base stations.
- Connection: Linked to base stations via optical fiber links called backhaul.
- Data Path: Data from user devices passes through both base stations and the CN to reach destinations like the Internet or other devices.
- User Mobility: Essential for supporting user mobility, a key feature of cellular networks.
Data Point – Rural –Urban Divide
- Urban Tele-density: 127%
- Indicates that on average, urban users have more than one mobile connection per person.
- Rural Tele-density: 58%
- Only about one in two rural users has a mobile connection.
Contributing Factors to Digital Divide
- Economic Disparities
- Lower Income Levels: Rural populations often have lower incomes, making mobile services unaffordable for many.
- Cost Sensitivity: High cost of devices and data plans further exacerbates the issue.
- Population Density and Distribution
- Lower Population Density: Rural areas have fewer people spread over larger areas, reducing the economic viability of network infrastructure investments.
- Clustered Populations: Villages are often separated by vast, sparsely populated areas, making it expensive to connect them.
- Infrastructure Challenges
- Remoteness: Many rural areas are located in difficult-to-reach regions, such as mountains or deep forests.
- Lack of Fiber Optic Infrastructure: Extending fiber networks to remote areas is costly and logistically challenging.
- Service Provision
- Urban-Focused Services: Existing cellular networks and services are often designed to cater to urban populations, where demand and profitability are higher.
- Limited Rural Research: Less focus on developing technologies specifically tailored to the needs and constraints of rural areas.
Impact of the Divide
- Economic Impact
- Limited Access to Markets: Rural businesses and farmers struggle to access broader markets without reliable connectivity.
- Reduced Economic Opportunities: Lack of connectivity hinders job opportunities, e-commerce, and digital financial services.
- Social Impact
- Educational Disparities: Students in rural areas miss out on online educational resources.
- Healthcare Access: Telemedicine and health information services are less accessible.
- Digital Inclusion
- Information Access: Rural populations have limited access to information and services available online.
- Social Connectivity: Reduced ability to maintain social connections and participate in digital communities.
Way forward
- IEEE 2061-2024 Standard
- Affordable Rural Connectivity: Defines a wireless network architecture specifically for rural areas.
- Heterogeneous AN: Combines macro base stations for large coverage areas and Wi-Fi for high-speed local connectivity.
- Multi-Hop Wireless Middle-Mile: Provides cost-effective long-distance connectivity, bypassing the need for extensive fiber optic deployment.
- Direct Internet Access: Allows AN to connect directly to the Internet, bypassing the central CN, optimizing for stationary rural users.
- Government and Private Sector Initiatives
- Subsidies and Incentives: Government programs to subsidize mobile devices and data plans for rural users.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborations to build and maintain infrastructure in rural areas.
- Technological Innovations: Development of cost-effective, durable technologies tailored to rural conditions.
Conclusion
Addressing the rural-urban divide in mobile connectivity requires a multi-faceted approach, including tailored technologies like IEEE 2061-2024, government interventions, and innovative solutions. Bridging this gap is crucial for economic development, social inclusion, and ensuring that rural populations can participate fully in the digital age.
Related PYQ
How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered off by the science-based technologies? [ UPSC Civil Services Exam – Mains 2020]
Practice Question
Discuss the challenges and solutions for bridging the rural-urban divide in mobile connectivity in India? [150 words]