New Delhi: Aligned with the centre’s strategic vision for digital armed forces, the Ministry of Defence sealed a contract with Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) to boost India’s digital armed forces, said the ministry on December 8. The contract worth Rs 588.68-crore aims to advance India’s digital defence capabilities through the acquisition of the digital coast guard (DCG) project under the Buy (Indian) category.
Under the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the DCG project initiative will chart a trajectory of technological advancement in the nation. The scope of the pan-India project extends to encompass the construction of an advanced “Data Centre”, the establishment of a resilient “Disaster Recovery Data Centre”, amplification of connectivity across ICG sites, and the development of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
According to an official, “the DCG project will unfold a comprehensive narrative of technological progression, encompassing the construction of an advanced Data Centre, the establishment of a robust Disaster Recovery Data Centre, amplification of connectivity across ICG sites, and the development of the ERP system.”
Additionally, the project harnesses secured multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) and very small aperture terminal (VSAT) connectivity, positioning itself at the forefront of defence technology. This digitisation will streamline logistical processes for the ministry saving significant resources and time.
The Indian Coast Guard’s strategic Digital Armed Forces vision advances through a pivotal contract aligned with the Centre’s objectives. This initiative encompasses an advanced Data Centre, robust Disaster Recovery, connectivity enhancement, and ERP system development. Employing secured technology, including MPLS/VSAT, it establishes a Tier-III Data Centre core. This nerve centre centralizes ICG application oversight, ensuring vigilant management of critical IT assets.
The project is anticipated to generate approximately one and a half lakh man-days over a five-year period, fostering active participation from diverse sectors of Indian industries, thus significantly contributing to the government’s efforts to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in Defence. This collaboration comes weeks after President Draupadi Murmu announced that the government is working to realise the vision of “Ports for Prosperity” and “Ports for Progress”. This is part of a larger vision to strengthen ports infrastructure and bolster the ICG.
