The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of India recently announced the rollout of 5G services in major metros by next year. India, much like other global tech players, had planned in 2018 to launch 5G as quickly as possible in order to leverage the superior network speeds and signal strength that this technology promises.
Understanding 5G Technology
5G represents the fifth generation mobile network and is the successor to 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. It’s a new kind of network designed to connect virtually everyone and everything, including machines, objects, and devices. High-band spectrum 5G internet speeds have been tested to be as high as 20 Gbps (gigabits per second), while the maximum recorded internet data speed for its predecessor, 4G, is 1Gbps.
The Journey from 1G to 5G
The path of development extended from 1G, launched in the 1980s, which used analog radio signals and supported only voice calls. Progressing to 2G in the 1990s, it used digital radio signals, supporting both voice and data transmission with a bandwidth of 64 Kbps. The advent of 3G in the 2000s provided speeds of 1 Mbps to 2 Mbps and enabled the transmission of telephone signals including digitized voice, video calls, and conferencing. Finally, 4G was launched in 2009, providing a peak speed of 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps and facilitating 3D virtual reality.
Exploring Different Bands of 5G
5G primarily operates in three bands: low, mid, and high-frequency spectrum, each with unique uses and limitations. The low-band spectrum delivers a maximum speed of 100 Mbps, suitable for commercial cellphone users without high-speed internet demands. Meanwhile, the mid-band spectrum provides higher speeds but has limitations in terms of coverage area and signal penetration. This bandwidth may be used by industries and specialized factory units to build captive networks. The high-band spectrum provides the highest speed but has extremely limited coverage and penetration strength. This band significantly enhances potential applications for futuristic technologies like Internet of Things (IoT) and smart technology.
Key Applications of 5G
5G is widely applicable across three main types of connected services: enhanced mobile broadband, mission-critical communications, and the massive IoT. Enhanced mobile broadband can spawn new immersive experiences such as Virtual reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). Mission-Critical Communications enabled by 5G can transform industries with ultra-reliable, low-latency links, facilitating remote control of infrastructure, vehicles, and medical procedures. Massive IoT connectivity can be achieved through 5G, connecting a massive number of embedded sensors in virtually everything. In combination with IoT, cloud, big data, Artificial Intelligence, and edge computing, 5G could potentially trigger the fourth industrial revolution.
The Challenges of Implementing 5G in India
There are several challenges facing the smooth rollout of 5G in India. These include the low fiberization footprint, which currently extends to only 30% of India’s telecom towers; the high cost of 5G Spectrum pricing in comparison with the global average; the banning of specific foreign telecom OEMs; and the dilemma of choosing between homegrown 5Gi standard and the global 3GPP standard for 5G technology implementation.
Recommendations for Successful 5G Implementation
Several measures need to be taken in order to realize the dream of 5G in India. These comprise boosting domestic 5G production, rationalizing the pricing of the spectrum, and bridging the rural-urban gap. The country needs to bolster its local 5G hardware manufacturing at an unprecedented rate. Additionally, the government should revise the spectrum pricing such that it generates sufficient revenue without hampering the implementation plans for 5G in India. Furthermore, with a much longer range at the low band spectrum, 5G can be key in narrowing the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
