The sixth India Mobile Congress (IMC), with the subject of “New Digital Universe,” was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It will bring together top academics, businesspeople, inventors, and representatives of the government to examine and highlight the unusual prospects brought about by the quick uptake and dissemination of digital technology. Famous cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, among others, are anticipated to enjoy 5G services early in the first phase. The government will increase the network’s rollout, according to telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and users won’t be charged more for 5G services.
Key Points about 5G Technology:
- 5G is an abbreviation for fifth generation mobile network. It is a brand-new international wireless standard that follows 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks.
- It makes possible a brand-new class of network intended to link practically everyone and everything together, including machines, things, and gadgets.
In comparison to most cases, the maximum internet data speed in 4G has been recorded at 1 Gbps. Internet speeds in the high-band spectrum of 5G have been tested to be as high as 20 Gbps (gigabits per second).
Uses of 5G
Broadly speaking, 5G is used across three main types of connected services, including enhanced mobile broadband, mission-critical communications, and the massive IoT.
- Enhanced Mobile Broadband: 5G mobile technology can bring forth new immersive experiences like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) with faster, more uniform data rates, lower latency, and cheaper cost-per-bit. It can also improve our cellphones.
- Mission-Critical Communications: With ultra-reliable, accessible, low-latency networks, 5G can enable new services that can alter sectors, such as remote control of crucial infrastructure, cars, and medical operations.
Massive Internet of Things: 5G’s capacity to scale down in data speeds, power, and mobility-providing incredibly lean and inexpensive connectivity solutions-is intended to seamlessly connect a massive number of embedded sensors in nearly anything.
The fourth industrial revolution may be significantly facilitated by 5G when combined with IoT, cloud, big data, AI, and edge computing. According to India’s National Digital Communications Policy 2018, the convergence of a group of ground-breaking technologies, including 5G, the cloud, the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics, along with a burgeoning start-up community, promises to deepen and accelerate its digital engagement and open up a new horizon of opportunities.
Challenges for 5G roll-out in India:
Low Fiberization Footprint: Only 30% of India’s telecom towers are now connected by fibre, indicating the need to improve fibre coverage throughout the country. This number has to double for the effective launch and adoption of 5G in India.
- ‘Make in India’ Hardware Challenge: The restriction on certain foreign telecom OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), on which the majority of the development of 5G technology depends, provides a barrier in and of itself.
- High spectrum prices: Compared to the global average, India’s 5G spectrum prices are significantly more expensive. The cash-strapped telcos in India will suffer as a result.
- Choosing the Optimal 5G Technology Standard:
To accelerate 5G technology adoption, the conflict between the domestic 5G standard and the international 3GPP standard must be resolved. Despite the clear advantages of 5G, telcos must deal with higher launch costs and interoperability concerns as a result of the technology.
- Increasing Domestic 5G Production: In order to realise the 5G India ideal, the nation must stimulate and increase domestic 5G hardware production at an unprecedented rate. This spectrum pricing needs to be rationalised in order for the government to make enough money from the auction without impeding India’s 5G rollout plans.
Closing the Rural-Urban Gap: 5G can be installed on a variety of band spectrums, and at the low band spectrum, the range is significantly longer, which is beneficial for rural areas.