Rakesh Mishra, a young Oriya entrepreneur based in Silicon Valley in the US, has done cutting-edge research in 5G technology. Mishra talks to Orissa POST about the marvels of 5G that can pitchfork the state’s economy into a higher growth trajectory.
Q) You have done advanced studies in 5G. Can you explain it in simple terms?
A 5G stands for 5th Generation. Mobile telecom technology has evolved from 1G in the 1980s to 2G in the 1990s, to 3G in the 2000s, and to 4G in the 2010s. The next generation of mobile telecom technology allows phones and tablets to connect to Internet and telephone network. 5G is the next in this line which is set to take centre-stage in the 2020s.
Q) What are the capabilities being envisioned for 5G?
The three broad capabilities of 5G are 100 Mbps or higher data rates, connection densities of 1 million devices per sq km and ultra-reliable communications. With 5G mobile networks can support exciting uses such as 3D and 4K video streaming, augmented reality, smart homes, self-driving cars, industry automation and remote medical surgery.
Q) How long will it take India to roll out 5G given its infra bottlenecks?
A) A few select markets in India will see 5G by 2022, but the first nationwide rollout will not happen before 2025. Deploying 5G will be much more capital intensive than previous generations. Indian telecom operators are trapped under massive debts and it seems unlikely that they will be able to invest in rolling out 5G nationwide before 2025.
Q) What differences will 5G make in the way we use mobile technology?
A) 5G will radically transform the way we use mobile technology. Mobile broadband speeds will exceed more than cable broadband and fibre optic cable; this will allow us to stream 3D, 4K and virtual-reality content anywhere. Second, connection densities will increase to a point that “internet of things” will become a reality; this will mean
that we’ll be connected not just to our friends and family but also to the refrigerator, washing machine, stoves and light bulbs in our homes, being able to monitor and control them from anywhere in the world. Third, we will be in virtual worlds where we can interact with people and places situated far away as if they were right around us.
Q) How will 5G application help education?
A) 5G has the power to transform how education is thought about and delivered. Education will become more accessible; students can access a lot more content from around the world in the comforts of their homes, especially in the remote areas. With the advent of virtual reality, education will become inexpensive and learning will be experience-based. Students can go on virtual field trips and virtual tours at negligible costs.
Q) You did your schooling in Orissa and went to IIT-Madras before joining Stanford for research. How do you find higher education scene in India and Orissa?
A) Fortunately, I studied in one of the best undergraduate institutes in India, but the higher education scenario in India in general and Orissa in particular is gloomy. More than 75% of our youth do not have access to higher education. More than 75-90% of our graduates are considered unemployable by the industry. We do not have a single multidisciplinary research varsity that ranks among top 100 in the world. Parents spend more than $50 billion annually on private coaching.
Q) Orissa has many national educational institutes like IIT, IIM, AIIMS and NISER. Given this development, how do you look at the education scene in the state?
I feel proud to see a proliferation in the number of higher education institutes in Orissa. I feel concerned to see that higher education in Orissa is not meeting the aspirations of the youth. From my experience, in most higher education institutes in Orissa, the curriculum is largely outdated. The students are unable to acquire useful skills and therefore come under a lot of stress, and the teachers have little incentive to invest in the success of their students. Research is given little emphasis, innovation is highly undervalued and the success of education is measured by how many students are able to find jobs. In my view, a strong higher education system is one that values research and innovation, and measures its success by how well it solves the problems of our times and how it adds value to the society.
Q) Do you have any plans for your home state?
A) I wish to work towards transforming Orissa from a materialsdriven economy into a knowledge-driven economy, where its primary wealth would lie not in its minerals or agricultural products, but in the minds and skills of its population. The first requirement is a world-class education system. I urge the Orissa government to create a blueprint for the next 10 years to establish a set of higher education institutes catering to all needs and sections of the population and establish a couple of multidisciplinary research varsities, at par with the best in the world for encouraging close interaction with the industry. I hope I can play a role in this transformation.
