TCIL pursuing opportunities to deploy UPI, digital ID solutions overseas, says CMD Sanjeev Kumar
Telecommunications Consultants of India Limited
(
TCIL
) is pursuing opportunities in foreign countries to deploy
unified payments interface
(UPI)-led services and
digital ID solutions
.
'Another technology that is getting a lot of recognition in the overseas markets is the UPI and digital IDs. So TCIL is also pursuing opportunities to deploy these solutions,' Sanjeev Kumar, CMD, TCIL, told ETTelecom in an interview.
UPI, part of India's homegrown digital stack, is already live in over seven countries, including the UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, and Mauritius, allowing Indians to make online payments internationally in a seamless manner.
UPI remains the cornerstone of India's digital payment ecosystem, contributing to 80% of the retail payments across the country. The total transaction volume exceeded 131 billion and the value exceeded ₹200 lakh crore for the FY 2023-24, the
Ministry of Finance
said in February this year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, has actively pitched for UPI's expansion within the BRICS grouping, which may boost remittance flows, improve financial inclusion, and improve India's positioning in the global financial ecosystem.
Kumar further said TCIL is working with international organisations to deploy indigenous
4G technology
, particularly in countries such as Angola, Gambia, Zambia, Botswana, and others.
'In addition to that, our focus is on telemedicine solutions and e-smart class solutions as well. We are in advanced discussions with Angola, Gambia and Zambia, which have shown interest in 4G deployment,' he added.
The top executive further said European countries and Australia have shown interest in adopting the early warning disaster management solutions developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT).
The telecom PSU has empanelled more than 300 startups and MSMEs as its partners to implement various projects, Kumar said, adding that TCIL offers flexible policies to award deals to these entities.
'We can award a work worth up to ₹10 crore to any startup, and once that work is completed, it can be awarded more deals. That way, it helps a startup to build up its financial strength and experience criteria,' the executive said.
According to TCIL, Indian startups have a 'bright future' ahead, particularly in the artificial intelligence (AI) segment which is seeing the launch of new solutions catering to various industries.
The Mini Ratna telecom PSU has already executed projects in over 70 countries. Its overseas operations are currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Mauritius, and Nepal, apart from the ongoing pan Africa e-Vidya Bharti and Arogya Bharti Network project operating in more than 15 African countries.
The company is also executing several government projects such as the Defence NFS project, Navy OFC projects, Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)-funded APSFL and Telengana Fiber Projects, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) VSAT, Eklavya School, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Super Edge, Teaching Learning Material for Bihar Education Council, among others.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 minutes ago
- Time of India
Jane Street blow pushes Indian quants to ancient Greek idea to thrive
Quant traders often look for inspiration from the likes of Ed Thorp or Ken Griffin. But the Indian quants, at least for now, are looking up to the ancient Greeks. Because the battlefield isn't the trading floor, but a different one. As quant strategies draw growing attention — and scrutiny — post the Jane Street episode, over 200 practitioners from across the country gathered earlier this month in Gurugram to address common challenges and chart
Hindustan Times
4 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
PM Narendra Modi says economy strong, seeks self-reliance in tech
India is the world's fastest-growing major economy and is rapidly moving towards becoming a global leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Bengaluru on Saturday, days after US President Donald Trump described the country's economy as 'dead' amid escalating trade tensions between the two nations. PM Narendra Modi with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and Union minister Manohar Lal during a Metro ride in Bengaluru on Sunday. (ANI) Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the 19-kilometre Yellow Line of the Bengaluru Metro, Modi said India was on track to become one of the world's top three economies as he credited the country's economic momentum to the central government's 'reform, perform, transform' approach. 'India is currently the fastest-growing major economy in the world. In the past eleven years, India's economy has risen from the 10th position to the top five globally and is rapidly progressing towards becoming one of the top three economies,' he said. The PM's endorsement of the country's economic growth came after Trump, on July 30, announced 25% punitive tariffs on Indian goods entering America for purchasing Russian oil. A day later he again targeted India, saying, 'I don't care what India does with Russia… They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care.' On August 6, he signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods. India has called the American actions 'unfair, unjustified and unreasonable' and said it will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests. In his address, Modi also called for the country to accelerate its self-reliance in the technology sector as he pressed for a stronger 'Tech Atmanirbhar Bharat'. 'Indian tech companies have made their mark on the global stage. They have built software and products for the world. The time has come to give greater priority to the needs of India. We must move forward in manufacturing new products,' he said. The statement was in line with his August 2 remarks in which he called on citizens to adopt the spirit of 'swadeshi' and support locally made products, stressing that true service to the nation lies in promoting indigenous goods amid global economic uncertainties. The additional 25% tariffs, due to take effect on August 27, will put Indian exporters at a significant disadvantage compared to their rivals in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam – which face tariffs of between 19% and 20%. In his speech, Modi said that the country's rapid pace of development was linked to its economic growth as he focused on the rise of the country's exports. 'Before 2014, India's total export was $468 billion, but today it is $824 billion. We used to import mobile phones but now we are among the top five exporters of mobile handsets. Our electronic export before 2014 was $6 billion, which has gone up to $38 billion dollars,' Modi said. He added: 'These achievements give strength to our concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). We will march together and build a developed India.' Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, Union ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Ashwini Vaishnaw were also present on the occasion. During his visit, the PM also laid the foundation stone for the Bangalore Metro Phase-3 project and flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains as he underscored the country's growing infrastructure footprint across sectors by highlighting the increase in the number of metro rail services, railway lines, airports, AIIMS and IITs. This was the first time Modi visited Bengaluru since Operation Sindoor, India's military action against terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation to April's Pahalgam attack, in which 26 civilians were killed. Modi credited the success of the operation to indigenous defence technologies. 'A key factor in the operation's success was 'Make in India' in defence, which had immense contribution from the youth of Karnataka and Bengaluru,' he said. I congratulate the youth of this state,' he said, adding that Pakistan, which 'came to defend the terrorists', was forced 'to its knees' within hours. Praising the city's global standing, he called Bengaluru 'a city that has become a symbol of the rise of the new India… A city that has put India's flag on the global IT map. If there is anything behind Bangalore's success story, it is the hard work and talent of its people.' Siddaramaiah, who spoke before Modisaid the state has been spending more than the Centre on Bengaluru's metro network, even though the project is meant to be jointly funded. 'Works for the Bengaluru Metro started in 2005 when Dr Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, and the agreement was to take up works in a 50:50 fund ratio. However, the state's contribution to building the metro is high,' he said, urging the Centre to match Karnataka's funding model with that of Maharashtra and Gujarat. In response, Modi called for cooperation over political rivalry. 'Whether it is the central government or the state government, all are committed to serving the people,' he said.
Economic Times
4 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Jane Street blow pushes Indian quants to ancient Greek idea to thrive
Quant traders often look for inspiration from the likes of Ed Thorp or Ken Griffin. But the Indian quants, at least for now, are looking up to the ancient Greeks. Because the battlefield isn't the trading floor, but a different one. As quant strategies draw growing attention — and scrutiny — post the Jane Street episode, over 200 practitioners from across the country gathered earlier this month in Gurugram to address common challenges and chart
