Telecom Centre of Excellence India (TCoE) under the Department of Telecom has called for proposals from startups and other companies for undertaking a survey among MSMEs to understand their challenges in the adoption and utilisation of advanced technologies. The survey would also aim to understand the support required by MSMEs to further innovate and become more competitive.
In a call for proposal titled Industry 4.0 Baseline Survey Among MSMEs: Fostering Digital Transformation through 5G Technologies, TCoE, which works on the growth of the telecom sector in India, said the survey will focus on “digital transformation through 5G technologies and its impact on the (MSME) sector.”
“The survey should aim to lay the groundwork for a robust ecosystem capable of capitalizing on the capabilities offered by 5G and 6G networks. This should include identifying sector-specific needs – in at least 10 sectors and preferences, recognizing the diverse landscape of MSMEs, and providing targeted support to foster innovation and competitiveness,” the proposal read.
In addition, the survey would pave the way for the “cyber-physical system through seamless integration of appropriate sensors using 5G /6G technologies ultimately driving sustainable growth across sectors.”
The company or startup undertaking the survey over a 90-day period would be responsible for designing the survey, data collection and its analysis, report generation and policy recommendations.
The adoption of technology in businesses is among the key areas for MSMEs’ growth. However, awareness and cost often limit the adoption of technology. According to a survey in 2023 for insights into the outlook of small businesses on AI and business growth by GoDaddy revealed that lack of awareness about available solutions was an area of concern for 50 per cent of 505 respondents in the survey followed by a lack of understanding of the benefits (45 per cent), potential costs (43 per cent) and lack of time to implement these tools (29 per cent).
