Kandla Port (Deen Dayal Port Authority) in Gujarat becomes the first Port in India to have 5G Telecom facilities as part of the government of India’s sustained efforts to beef up infrastructure in the state. The major ports in the country have been linked the dedicated freight corridor so that goods could reach the North Indian hinterland within hours.
The project will help the port to fulfill its vision of becoming an efficient Mega Port by experimenting on new automation processes on 5G networks, which will improve its cargo handling efficiency. The Kandla Port has thus become the only port (minor, Major or private) to be 5G ready before the planned launch of 5G network in the country. To process the infrastructure the department of telecom (DoT) officials visited the Gujarat port along with officials of telecom service providers and infra providers i.e. Indus Towers, Vodafone, Jio, Airtel and BSNL on April
28, 2022 for the kick-off. The meeting and survey set a target to start 5G trial within 90 days. The initial scope of the pilot at the Kandla port included only 4 street /furniture and they were identified for carrying out the 5G pilot.
The Administration and officials of Kandla Port extended all possible support. Administrative approvals and statutory permissions were given on war footing to allow the use of and access to the required street furniture (electricity poles, high mast structures, building of the port).
The port also provided 48 core fibre optic network, electricity, high mast towers etc. and made it readily available to the 5G pilot team, together with manpower, material and machine in order to complete the project in record time. It was accomplished on July 21, 2022. Kandla port has now become the first port location in India to be 5G facility. The four locations chosen for pilot testing 5G included Delhi Airport, Bhopal Smart City, Bangalore Metro and Kandla Port (Deendayal Port Authority).
