INDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 5G services in India at an event in the first week of October, the government’s National Broadband Mission tweeted today.
“Taking India’s digital transformation and connectivity to new heights, Hon’ble PM @narendramodi to roll out 5G services in India; at the India Mobile Congress; the largest technology exhibition in Asia,” it said.
Billed as Asia’s largest telecom, media and technology forum, India Mobile Congress (IMC) is jointly organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Mobile Operators Association of India (COAI).
India Mobile Congress (IMC), scheduled from October 1 to 4, claims to be Asia’s largest telecom, media and technology forum, jointly organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Mobile Operators Association of India (COAI).
IMC 2022 will focus on “the evolution path of existing technologies and what it brings for businesses and individuals in the future through meaningful dialogues”.
As far as speed is concerned, the rule of thumb for 5G is 100 Mbps, although this can vary. The broad consensus for 4G is that it is in the 60-70 Mbps range.
In addition to high-speed data, 5G also has the potential to enable several enterprise-level solutions such as machine-to-machine communication, connected vehicles, and immersive augmented reality and metaverse, among others.
The DoT received total bids worth Rs 1.50 crore from the 5G spectrum auction in August. Reliance Jio, Adani group, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea were the four major participants in the spectrum sale.
The government has set a target of 80 per cent coverage of 5G telecom services in the country within a short time frame, Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said last week.
Speaking at an industry event in the capital last Wednesday, Vaishnaw said, “The 5G journey is going to be very exciting, noting that many countries have taken several years to reach 40% to 50% coverage. a very aggressive timeline and the government has set a target of 80% coverage in a short time frame and we should cover at least 80% in a very short time frame.”
Experts say that 5G technology will be of great benefit to India. It is likely to add ₹36.4 trillion ($455 billion) to India’s economy between 2023 and 2040, a recent report by a global industry body representing mobile network operators estimated.
5G will account for more than a third of total connections in India by 2030, with the share of 2G and 3G falling to less than 10 per cent, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA) report said, noting that India’s high level of 4G adoption (79 per cent) suggests that the subscriber base is ready to transition to 5G.
The report also estimates which sectors will realise how much benefit 5G will reap manufacturing (accounting for 20 per cent of the total benefit), retail (12 per cent) and agriculture (11 per cent).
Earlier, Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that India is preparing to roll out 5G services by October. He also added that 5G services will be expanded upon launch and should reach all parts of the country in the next two to three years.
Talking about 5G in his Independence Day speech, PM Modi said the service will offer 10 times faster speed and will start in India soon. Indian villages would get access to optical fiber and soon internet would reach the remotest part of the country, he further said.
Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, Bharti Airtel’s Sunil Mittal and Vodafone Idea India chief Ravinder Takkar will be on stage with PM Modi on the occasion, government officials told Moneycontrol.
Union Ministers including Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan among others will be present at the event.
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