Recently India’s first indigenously developed 4G stack  was unveiled comprising telecom hardware and software, and is now ready for export.

• With this, India joins an exclusive group of countries capable of providing their own 4G infrastructure, competing directly with China’s Digital Silk Road initiative, which has dominated developing markets for years.

India’s Indigenous 4G Stack

• Developed by: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Tejas Networks, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and C-DoT
• Components: Radio Access Network (Tejas), Core Network (C-DoT) and integration capabilities.
• Key Features: 
  • Reduced foreign dependency by using domestic vendors.
  • Future-proof Architecture: The design is 5G-ready, allowing for smooth and cost-effective upgrades to next-generation technologies.
  • National Security: Empowers India to control its telecom infrastructure, enhancing digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy in communications.
  • Export Potential: Designed not only to meet internal demands but to be exported, with interest already expressed by several countries.
• Significance: 
  • With this achievement, India joins a select group of five countries (Denmark, Sweden, South Korea, China, and now India) capable of manufacturing and deploying their own telecom infrastructure, marking a significant leap in global telecom competitiveness.

Alongside the 4G stack, India has developed India Stack, a set of digital public goods and digital codes aimed at revolutionizing identity, payments, and data management at a population scale.

India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

• Definition: Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) refers to foundational digital systems and platforms that enable the delivery of public services, facilitate data exchange, and support digital governance across various sectors.
• Objective: Export this architecture to developing countries, positioning India as a leader in digital public infrastructure. 

Major Layers of India Stack

1. Aadhaar: A unique biometric digital identity system.
2. UPI (Unified Payments Interface): A real-time payment system facilitating inter-bank transactions.
3. eKYC (Electronic Know Your Customer): A paperless and digital process for verifying identities.
4. DigiLocker: A platform for storing and sharing documents digitally.
5. Consent Layer: A modern privacy data-sharing framework with an open personal data store.

Competition with China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR)

• China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR): China’s aggressive digital expansion through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provides affordable telecom infrastructure (like 4G and 5G) and digital platforms (e.g., mobile payments and applications) to developing countries.
  • Africa’s Telecom Dominance: Huawei controls 70% of Africa’s 4G infrastructure, also the first to offer 5G services there.
  • Strategic Leverage: DSR is backed by Chinese state support, financing, and policy to build digital influence in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store

India’s Competitive Edge

• Local Manufacturing & Scalability: India’s 4G stack offers low-cost solutions and is designed for rapid scalability and future upgrades.
• Support for Digital Sovereignty: India aims to provide countries with sovereign control over telecom infrastructure, reducing dependency on foreign nations, particularly China.
• Global Expansion Opportunities: As the digital economy grows in developing countries, India’s offerings, like India Stack, could present a competitive alternative to China’s infrastructure in emerging markets.

DOWNLOAD PDF