Context
The Department of Telecommunications allowed private telcos Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio Infocomm and Vi (formerly Vodafone Idea) and well as state-run telco Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) to start the trials for 5G technology as well as its applications in various sectors. The trials will last for 6 months for now.
About the 5G or fifth generation technology
- 5G or fifth generation is the latest upgrade in the long-term evolution mobile broadband networks.
- 5G mainly works in 3 bands, namely low, mid and high-frequency spectrum.
- All of these 3 bands have uses and limitations.
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5 G and its band spectrum potential
low band spectrum:
- The low band spectrum has shown great promise in terms of coverage and speed of internet and data exchange.
- Its maximum speed is limited to 100 Mbps (Megabits per second).
- The telcos can use and install it for commercial cellphone users who may not have specific demands for very high speed internet.
- The low band spectrum may not be optimal for specialised needs of the industry.
Mid-band spectrum:
- It offers higher speeds compared to the low band, but has limitations in terms of coverage area and penetration of signals.
- Telcos and companies, which have taken the lead on 5G, have indicated that this band may be used by industries and specialised factory units for building captive networks that can be moulded into the needs of that particular industry.
High-band spectrum:
- It offers the highest speed of all the three bands, but has extremely limited coverage and signal penetration strength.
- Internet speeds in the high-band spectrum of 5G has been tested to be as high as 20 Gbps (giga bits per second), while, in most cases, the maximum internet data speed in 4G has been recorded at 1 Gbps.
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Significance of the trials for 5G technology for telecos
- The telecom market in India is left with only three private telcos, with the rest having surrendered to the low returns on investments over the years along with the two state-run companies, MTNL and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).
- It is pertinent for telcos to start offering the new 5G technology to increase the average revenue.
- For that, however, they will have to conduct trials in a variety of circumstances, including in semi-urban and rural areas, which remains an untapped market for them.
- It is also important that the government remain also ready to roll out the new technology as soon as possible.
- A standing committee of Lok Sabha on Information Technology has already warned that India could miss the 5G bus.
What will 5G trials in India entail for now?
- In the initial phase, these trials will be for 6 months, including a 2 month period for procurement and setting up of the equipment.
- In these 6 months, telcos will be required to test their set up in urban areas, semi-urban areas as well as rural areas.
- During this period, the telcos will be provided with experimental spectrum in various bands, such as the mid-band of 3.2 GHz to 3.67 GHz, the millimeter wave band of 24.25 GHz to 28.5 GHz, and others.
Where does India stand in the 5G technology race?
- On par with the global players, India had, in 2018, planned to start 5G services as soon as possible, with an aim to capitalise on the better network speeds and strength that the technology promised.
What is the global progress on 5G?
- More than governments, global telecom companies have started building 5G networks and rolling it out to their customers on a trial basis.
