5G Rollout Calls For A Skilled Workforce In India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 5G services in India, paving the path for a significant shift for industries. There is an entire wave of users who are waiting for 5G to transform their experience, leading to the industry moving towards technologies such as cloud computing and Internet of Things. All sectors in India are expected to transform themselves with 5G setting the benchmark for technology. Businesses have started to imagine new possibilities as 5G promises to go beyond industry limitations. Sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, energy, and healthcare are ready to adopt 5G technologies in their operations.
With more than a billion subscribers and one of the highest data consumption rates per smartphone, the Indian telecom market is one of the largest in the world. It's estimated that 5G will account for 40 per cent (~500 million) mobile customers by 2027.
But how does the commercial launch of 5G going to affect Indian industries? Several companies such as Nokia, Ericsson, Samsung have matured towards the production of 5G and its services. As 5G penetration increases, industries are expected to scale up their services in every sector. Industries are creating demand for a workforce with skills in 5G-based technologies for manufacturing, network services, infrastructure, service, and retail segments.
Skilling for 5G
There are two core aspects to enhancing the technical skillset of the current workforce. First is the direct approach of providing skill training. This can be achieved by classroom/practical lessons or by on-the-job training. Both have their own advantages and need to be implemented together to achieve the best possible quality of training. An important aspect of training is the real-world jobs it caters to. If trainings are conducted for the sake of training, we are missing the point. Training needs to be structured according to industry requirements. This means that during course content development, feedback from the industry is necessary thus ensuring feasibility of placements.
The second aspect of skill development is creating training infrastructure. This I feel is a more lucrative setup in terms of the ROI it offers. Traditionally, we in India like to implement low-effort training which provides the minimum expected output. This has led to scores of ITIs/polytechnics rendered obsolete due to sub-par usage of buildings, tools and equipment and a general sense of disregard for these establishments. I propose to systematically rehabilitate these establishments to optimise their usage and seed the aspiration of our youth. They need to be shown how big the universe is and how much potential they possess. This can only be done in a controlled and enabled environment. If we are to tackle the mammoth task of skilling for 5G, these have to be our prime focus.
We already have institutes of excellence like IITs, NITs, IIITs, etc. in our technical higher education ambit. Why cannot we have trainers trained by the reputed staff at these institutions to then spread the skills everywhere to the ITI/polytechnic ecosystem. Workforce focusing on enablement is the biggest job creator and the volume of training it demands can only be fulfilled if the task is distributed across our skill framework. Anchoring the existing government infrastructure is one of the most efficient ways to achieve the above objectives at the most minimal cost factor.
If we talk about the scope of use cases for 5G and allied technologies, we have to look at the technologies that are upcoming alongside 5G. I have maintained my position about the big seven being 5G, IoT, AI/ML, cyber security, cloud computing, AR/VR and drone technology. Secretary DoT K. Rajaraman announced the skilling of 1 lakh candidates under 5G and allied courses by the Telecom SSC. This objective has been established with support from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Govt. of India, which has major plans for developing competent skilled manpower for the telecom sector.
The government is also focusing on boosting domestic manufacturing, investments, and export of telecom and networking products. Indian companies will benefit from skilled talent in 5G and allied technologies. The vast network of ITIs and PMKKs must be leveraged to create a pipeline for prospected candidates who wish to upskill themselves, especially those who wish to accept advanced courses after completion of their basic skill courses. It is imperative that we build a robust infrastructure in 5G to expand our current telecom workforce through re-skilling and upskilling. Setting up special training centres and skill labs in the existing ITI/polytechnic infrastructure and utilising their reach to penetrate training for entry-level and specialised job roles.
I envision 5G to be a major driving force for the Indian economy in the coming years. It is crucial to chart the roadmap for scaling up the workforce through industry collaboration. This will propel incumbent enterprises to proactively embrace 5G and allied technologies. The road ahead is
promising. For 5G to succeed in India, we must head towards embracing innovative technologies with open arms and make the future brighter and more equitable for all.
Author
Arvind Bali, CEO, Telecom Sector Skill Council
