The rural area population was 64.61 percent in 2021 and will grow more in the coming years. Also, 70% of India is covered with villages, making this country predominantly dependent on agriculture as a source of income. However, suppose the most recent technologies do not fully penetrate rural areas. In that case, it can be detrimental to the country’s economic growth in so many ways that most people will not enjoy the modern facilities they truly deserve.

Therefore, the IT ministry is investing around $30 billion to ensure the last-mile 5G network is accessible to every village across the country and we can achieve the dream of a “rural digital India.” Here are 3 critical sectors where 5G in rural areas can significantly impact and empower the rural population.

Agriculture

When we introspect, we can clearly say that India’s farming sector has not managed to keep up with emerging technologies in the global market. As per the UN assessment, a 70% rise in food production can be achieved with the adoption of 5G and IoT technology as a part of the rural empowerment strategy in the agricultural sector across the globe by 2050, which can be sufficient to feed the ever-growing population. Deploying 5G-enabled smart sensors in the farming field can help you gather information in real-time, like soil status, temperature, and humidity, that can be utilized to keep the crops in good condition and increase the yield. By combining all agricultural activities with rural 5G, farmers can learn more and India will have a lot less trouble getting food in the future.

Education

Rural digital India is incomplete without improving education and bringing English literacy to 100% across every village in India. With better remote learning,5G internetin rural areas can make a huge difference in the education sector.It is challenging to build quality schools in every village in India due to a lack of funding and reach. By implementing 5G in rural areas, highly interactive online classrooms can be created where students from rural areas can get the same quality education as urban area students, making them more academically strong and competitive. As 5G services are faster than all their previous counterparts, education can reach far wider places without any buffering, making it accessible to every corner of India. 

Healthcare

For patients in rural areas, reaching doctors can be challenging due to a lack of transportation and the unavailability of good hospitals. But now that remote home monitoring systems, telehealth, and 5G are becoming more common in rural areas, patients can get care without leaving their homes. Doctors can now make recommendations on video calls and even offer prescriptions. Although 4G can be used, 5G can improve the experience in multiple ways. With AR, VR, and mixed reality assistance, expert surgeons and doctors can use remote robots to serve patients in rural hospitals.

Remote diagnostics and teleconsultation will compensate for the voids observed in rural healthcare. Smart devices, IoT, and AI will help add new dimensions when it comes to patient care and treatment success rates. With the help of 5G, digital India in rural areas can reach new heights in healthcare. This will make our people better able to handle medical emergencies and care for patients in general.

Conclusion

We are getting closer to the dream of achieving a rural digital India, and 5G will act as the propeller that can make rural India enjoy the same facilities and opportunities as urban India. It’s time to launch 5G in rural areas at full speed.