STL, a renowned digital network integrator, unveiled its 5G-ready solutions at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2022 to enhance last-mile village connectivity and rural digitization. STL’s 5G-ready digital network solutions assist telcos, cloud corporations, citizen networks, and major organizations in providing superior consumer experiences.

As a step forward into rural digitization, India intends to fiberize all 6,250,000 villages. However, 60% of the rural population remains disconnected. STL offers 30 years of optical knowledge and large-scale project execution skills to address key issues such as sheer magnitude, harsh terrains, network economics, and rural fiber deployment speed. To improve billions of lives and enhance rural internet options, the business has created its 5G-ready solution, an approach focused on India to address these issues and roll out rural broadband for villages.

STL’s 5G-Ready Solution includes the following:

1. National long-distance network design: Combines open-source data with AI and GIS databases to allow first-time-right design and comprehensive Bill of Materials.

2. A comprehensive optical cable suite:

• Weather-resistant aerial cables: All-weather cable with a long span for connecting harsh terrains
• Outdoor distribution retractable cable and accessories: This cable may be directly laid, aerially deployed, or put over rugged terrain facades and walls, saving time and money.
• Indoor/outdoor last mile connectivity cable: This optical cable can be used for 4G/5G micro-sites, Wi-Fi hotspots, and residential broadband.

3. Fiber Automation Services: increases deployment speed and network longevity by using automation like robotic trenching, 360-degree photogrammetry, and GIS database visualization.

4. A skilled pool of talent: STL Academy is dedicated to developing a qualified workforce for technologies like 5G, fiber blowing, splicing, and cable preparation. It has taught over a million professionals in 5G and 600 BSF workers in fiber splicing.

5. An application ecosystem Digital Cafe: To make internet use cases like e-health, e-education, digital payments, and smart surveillance possible.

The solution will accelerate and scale rural network deployment. STL is working with carriers and the government to put this strategy into action on the ground.

What is rural digitization?

Rural digitization entails using modern digital technology to enhance rural communities’ economic and social structure, giving them more chances to live connected lives. These technologies take numerous forms, from increasing rural internet options and agricultural advancements to solar-powered lighting systems. Still, they all address the same issue: people should not be forced to leave the countryside.

How Will 5G Help Rural Internet Options?

5G will bring people closer to being linked to everything, everywhere, at all times, and will allow for the seamless interworking of various technologies and networks. The incorporation of satellites into 5G networks will pave the way for new applications in sectors like agriculture, health, and emergency response for rural user groups. Furthermore, the provision of ubiquitous and secure connections will create new services for rural broadband, rural fiber, smart mobility, and automated transportation, speeding the automation and digital transformation of the whole transportation sector from sea to road to air.

Rural fiber optic cabling has the potential to strengthen the economy, expand education, and increase digital inclusion in rural regions. The drive to expand the nation’s fiber network for 5G, along with increasing government subsidies and other financing sources, is making high-speed rural broadband accessible to even the most remote towns.