India is making remarkable progress in the deployment of 5G technology, witnessing the fastest rollout in the world. The country has reached a significant milestone with 3,00,000 5G sites now operational, according to Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Telecom Minister. Leading telecom operators, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, are at the forefront of this ambitious 5G expansion.
Reliance Jio has been aggressively rolling out 5G infrastructure and has achieved an impressive 90% coverage in census towns and cities. The company claims to have launched 5G in 6258 towns and cities across India, while the official number for Airtel’s 5G deployment remains undisclosed. The telecom operators are committed to extending 5G coverage nationwide by the end of this year, aligning with their strategic goals.
However, achieving 100% 5G coverage poses a significant challenge for the telecom companies. It demands a highly dense telecom infrastructure, involving substantial costs. Presently, 5G services are available only in select parts of cities where they have been launched. To support rapid 5G deployment, the Indian government is taking initiatives to facilitate the telecom players. The recently launched GatiShakti Sanchar portal enables telcos to obtain Right of Way (RoW) approvals swiftly. Moreover, the process of obtaining SAFCA (Spectrum Allocation and Frequency Clearance) clearance for deploying low-powered BTS (Base Transceiver Station), small cells, and other necessary infrastructure has been streamlined.
While the progress of 5G rollout in India is impressive, there are some key challenges to address, primarily related to coverage and monetization. Presently, there is a disconnect between consumers and 5G due to the lack of practical use cases. Additionally, deep 5G coverage is still limited, hindering its widespread adoption and seamless user experience. To bridge this gap, the Indian government is actively encouraging academic institutions and startups to innovate and develop new use cases for 5G technology.
To explore the potential of 5G further, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has organized the “5G & Beyond Hackathon 2023.” This event aims to foster collaboration and ideation to unlock the full potential of 5G and its applications.
As India continues its rapid strides in the 5G landscape, the collaboration between the government, telecom operators, and innovators is crucial to overcome challenges and unleash the true potential of this transformative technology. With continued efforts and advancements, India is poised to enter an era of enhanced connectivity and digital innovation, benefitting businesses, consumers, and society as a whole.
