1. BSNL Role in Developing Smart Cities

2. What is a Smart City
“There is no universally accepted definition of a smart city. It means different things to different people. The conceptualization of smart City, varies from city to city and country to country, depending on the level of development, willingness to change & reform, the resources and the aspirations of the city residents.”

3. Consultancy companies
Smart City is an undefined heterogeneous concept
efficient
green
sustainable
Politicians
Environmentalists
automated
more humane
IT providers
smart grid
energy efficiency
new businesses
enabler
Utilities
electric vehicle
Consultancy companies
Car Industry

4. A Smart and Sustainable Urban Landscape
An underlying ubiquitous ICT infrastructure,

5. ICT - Platform to aggregate Information and Data
CSTEP-Report
ICT plays a crucial role in development of Smart cities, since it acts as the platform to aggregate information and data

6. Some ICT based Smart Solutions
Smart Wi-Fi networks with Wi-fi off loading
Smart Alert System
CCTV Surveillance System
Smart City Street Light
Smart Vehicle Parking
IP Based PA system
Smart Water/Power Metering
Vehicle Speed Detection/tracking System
The right ICT infrastructure being a key driver of smart city initiatives, needs attention .

7. The Major Requirements / Enablers
An underlying ubiquitous ICT infrastructure
Common open platforms
High-speed Internet access
wired infrastructure
wireless networks
Data Centres
Smart devices, sensors, actuators for offering real-time data management
Development of Customized Applications
The IOT , M2M , all buzz words start from here only. All services used require common open platforms and ubiquitous ICT infra

8. 100 Smart City Mission
&
How BSNL fits into it ?

9. 100 Smart City Mission
“Smart cities” is one of the much talked about and ambitious project of Government of India, which is in initial stages of conceptualization and needs to be pursued as a national goal…
The objective of the SC mission is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and a decent quality of life, a clean and sustainable environment and application of smart solutions.

10. List of 33 Smart Cities - Phase-1
Circle
Selected Cities
Andaman & Nicobar
Port Blair
Andhra Pradesh
Visakhapatnam, Kakinada
Assam
Guwahati
Bihar
Bhagalpur
Chhattisgarh
Raipur
Gujarat
Surat, Ahmedabad
Haryana
Faridabad
Himachal Pradesh
Dharamshala
Jharkhand
Ranchi
Karnataka
Devangere, Belagavi
Kerala
Kochi
Circle
Selected Cities
Madhya Pradesh
Jabalpur, Indore, Bhopal
Maharashtra
Pune, Solapur, Panaji
North East 1
Agartala
North East 2
Imphal
Odisha
Bhubaneswar
Punjab
Ludhiana, Chandigarh
Rajasthan
Jaipur, Udaipur
Tamil Nadu
Coimbatore, Chennai
Telangana
Warangal
Uttar Pradesh (East)
Lucknow
West Bengal
New Town Kolkata

11. Important details of the Mission
A centrally sponsored scheme (CSS), where the financial support to the Mission is approx. Rs.48,000 Crore over five years i.e. on an average Rs.100 Crore per city per year. An equal amount, on a matching basis, shall be contributed by the State/ULB. Nearly Rupees one lakh Crore of funds will be available for Smart Cities development.
The Government is not prescribing any particular model to be adopted by Smart cities.
Each city has to formulate its own concept, vision, mission and prepare the Smart City Proposal (SCP) for mobilization of resources , infrastructure up-gradation and smart applications, depending upon their requirements.
The Mission will cover 100 cities and its duration will be five years (FY to FY ).

13. BSNL Strengths
Apart from having a strong Telecom Network with a Pan India reach in almost all sectors: Wireline, Wireless, Broadband, Leased Line… BSNL is the major telecom and IT infrastructure services provider, with ready, easy to roll out , smart solutions, available under the Smart city Project.
It is the only service provider, making focused efforts & planned initiatives to bridge the rural-urban digital divide in the country.

14. BSNL Strengths
…. An IP core network which creates a converged infrastructure for buildings and ICT systems and seamlessly integrates wireless and wireline technologies is the main USP of BSNL ….
BSNL with open Broadband network access, Wi-fi Hotspots and offloading is the future…

15. BSNL Strengths - IDC
The World Class, secure and ISO certified, low latency Enterprise Data Centres across India at six locations, already providing Cloud based services to many Central/ State Government Departments.
Approximately 150 plus Clients, including Air India, Election Commission, AAIL etc, who are availing the Data Center services from BSNL.
These Green Data centers have Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) of less than 1.7…

16. BSNL Strengths – EB Group
Dedicated Enterprise Business vertical to interact with the Ministries/Urban Local Bodies/other State organizations to understand their Telecom / ICT / M-Governance solution needs, offer appropriate solution and providing support afterwards
A major contributor in BSNL revenue generation….

17. BSNL Strengths – ITPC
A full fleshed, highly efficient, truly professional, In-house Software development (ITPC) Circle, comprising of trained professionals/software Engineers to develop IT and Mobile applications/ ICT solutions. In partnership with many leading technology companies for providing cutting edge Mobile Governance/smart solutions
We all know, ITPC has developed many applications like Sanchar Soft, Payment portal, My BSNL app having more than 5 million downloads on Google Play

18. With its readily available infrastructure and expertise required for delivering end to end ICT solutions, it is a natural choice not only as a technology partner, but as a complete end to end smart solution provider for Smart City Programme of Government of India….

19. BSNL Participation So Far …

20. NB Cell Initiatives
An MOU has been signed by NB cell recently with Ministry of Urban Development for implementing the ICT based solution for Solid Waste Management in Urban Local bodies all over the country under Swatch Bharat Mission (SBM)
The total revenue during the period of MOU is expected to be more than Rs.500 Crore (~ vehicles)
A very prestigious and important programme of Government of India, in partnership with BSNL

21. With Pune Municipal Corporation
BSNL has executed the city surveillance system project along with M/s ADSL, for providing Bandwidth on OFC to around 691 locations in Pune. More then 1000 cameras at all major crossings/roads have been put for recording the activities in real time
The same system can be used for other upcoming smart city projects like Intelligent Traffic management System, Intelligent Lighting System, Wi-Fi network etc. in the city.
The approximate cost of the project is Rs 225 cr

22. With West Bengal Government
BSNL is selected as TSP on Nomination Basis.
HIDCO, Government of West Bengal has signed the MOU for providing State of Art telecom services in New Town area of Kolkata. The scope includes installation of Telephone Exchanges (20), mobile BTS towers (12), Wi-Fi hotspots (11) and provision of FTTH through GPON.
BSNL got waiver of one time up front payment and rental charges for using cable duct laid by NTTIDCO

23. With Municipal Corporation, Raipur
MOU has been signed between BSNL and Raipur Municipal Corporation to define the areas of collaboration between authority and BSNL for planning, design, financing, implementation & operations & maintenance of upcoming smart city projects in Raipur under GOI’s “Smart city Mission”

24. Challenges Being Faced

25. Challenges
Though BSNL has strengths and assets that can be leveraged to enable smart city environments, in the absence of a clear roadmap and dedicated space for establishing core and access networks, its not playing a primary role in smart city projects so far.
Finding the right technology partners, appropriate consultants, and system integrator is a big challenge

26. Major Challenges
As such, no major concrete plan/initiative from Headquarters have been initiated in this direction. Barring participation by few circles, which are interacting with respective Municipal Corporations at their own, not much focus, and importance has been given so far…
The visionary and proactive approach alongwith the concerte and well-coordinated efforts is the need of day…..

27. Challenges to overcome
RFPs at majority of locations , being floated , are not only for back haul connectivity , but for end user services and infrastructure like command and control centre etc., for which BSNL is not having any tie ups presently.
A review of project implementation methodology and request to ULBs for utilization of BSNL back haul networks is need of the day…….

28. Challenges to overcome
Though tremendous business opportunities are available for BSNL in providing m-governance and ICT based solutions to its customers using its mobile network as well as Data Centre infrastructure …
BSNL faces real tough competition, as it is required to pay license fee and service charges on the AGR, irrespective of business area….
-- A major deterrent factor in the digital India initiatives being taken by BSNL…
The extra expenditure of 8 to 10 % on account of license fee and 3 to 8 % on account of spectrum charges will affect adversely any intiative taken by BSNL in the new business areas and will make its efforts non-viable

29. Challenges to overcome
Also, ignorance, unawareness, non clarity about the role of BSNL to act as a TSP or as a complete end to end ICT solution provider are few minor but important gaps.
Needs to be plugged in urgently and appropriately.

30. Way Forward

31. Way Forward…
BSNL, not only as a telecom service provider but also as a body of domain knowledge expert in ICT/Telecommunications needs to play an active role in providing telecom solutions/technical advice to MoUD/local urban bodies.
An ecosystem of Application Providers, System Integrators and technology partners are required to be developed for participation with BSNL in the Smart city project throughout the country.

32. Way Forward…
A close synergized efforts are required to project BSNL as the major telecom and IT infrastructure services and solution provider at state/local level.
Initially, focus can be on 33 cities, which have been selected by MoUD for upgradation in Phase I.
Further, there is a need to sensitize all the concerned cells/ units in BSNL , including the heads of the 33 cities to aggressively work and to be in touch with the local urban bodies.

33. Participation by Field Units
Understanding the overall requirement of the ULBs for developing smart cities.
By giving consultancy in providing state of art telecom services and smart solutions.
By empanelling system integrators for giving turn-key solutions.
By identification of VAS providers for provisioning of customized value added services based on the local requirements.
In providing complete IP-based backend network and services.
Writing to Chief Secretaries /IT heads by CGMs about BSNL strengths
Continous persuasions with state machinery, ULBs

34. Field Units may request Local Bodies
To appoint BSNL as partner agency for implementing ICT based smart solutions on Nomination basis
To allow BSNL to assist in framing/finalizing the SCPs, ICT frameworks
To utilize BSNL’s expertise in providing State of Art Telecom services & solutions
To enforce/bind the end user service provider to utilize BSNL back haul networks for end user services and infrastructure
To utilize BSNL’s Data Centres and cloud services

35. The visionary and proactive approach of BSNL with the concerted and well-coordinated efforts at this stage shall not only enhance its image as a true smart partner in Digital India initiatives of GOI, but also give it the huge business opportunities and great revenue streams in time to come…
With this, I end my presentation with a positive note and firm belief and a quote from Henery ford

36. “ Coming together is a beginning keeping together is progress
working together is success”
Shubha N Bhambhani
General Manager (C&M)
BSNL Corporate Office, New Delhi