The telecom landscape in India is set to undergo a massive transformation, with industry estimates suggesting that the country will have 920 million unique mobile subscribers by 2025, including 88 million 5G connections. This remarkable growth, however, still leaves India behind its regional peers. For instance, China is predicted to have nearly 30% of its total connection base on 5G by the same year. The rapid rise and promising future of 5G technology necessitate an understanding of its implications in India and globally.
Understanding 5G Technology
5G, or ‘Fifth Generation’, refers to the next generation of mobile networks beyond Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile networks. It promises to deliver higher data speeds on wider connectivity, utilizing lower power, emitting less radiation, and offering extended battery life. Additionally, 5G is being touted as the network for the Internet of Things (IoT). This means not only will people be interconnected, but various machines, industrial equipment, automobiles, city infrastructure, public safety mechanisms, etc., will also be connected.
The Technology Behind 5G
To support a large number of devices, many of which require extensive battery life, the 5G network will build on the LTE Advanced Pro platform. It will employ two narrowband technologies platforms: Enhanced machine-type communication (e-MTC) and narrowband IoT (NB-IoT). These platforms are designed to reduce device and network complexity, thereby achieving their support goals.
Advantages of 5G Network
A notable benefit of the 5G network is its impressive speed. It is expected to achieve a peak data rate of 20 Gb/s for downlink and 10 Gb/s for uplink. In terms of latency, which refers to the total time it takes for a data packet to travel between two nodes, a 5G network could potentially achieve as low as 4 milliseconds in a mobile scenario, and even 1 millisecond in ultra-reliable low latency communication scenarios.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| LTE | Long Term Evolution. A 4G wireless communications standard designed to provide up to 10x the speeds of 3G networks for mobile devices. |
| VoLTE | Voice over Long Term Evolution. A digital packet voice service that is delivered over IP via an LTE access network. |
| Latency | The total time it takes a data packet to travel from one node to another or the delay when a system component is waiting for another to respond. |
| Internet of Things (IoT) | An ecosystem of connected physical objects that are accessible through the internet. The object could be a person with a heart monitor or an automobile with built-in-sensors, i.e., objects that have been assigned an IP address and can collect and transfer data over a network without any manual assistance. |
The Future of Connectivity
With its promise of high-speed connectivity, lower latency, and the capability to connect numerous devices, 5G technology is set to revolutionize not just telecommunications but various sectors including healthcare, automotive, and infrastructure among others. It’s noteworthy to remember, however, that while India’s digital journey towards adopting 5G is commendable, the country still has some climb to match global front-runners like China.
