Telcos see faster deployment of 5G tech

5G, or fifth generation technology has been the flavour at the first edition of India Mobile Congress held i the national capital.

While India has just embraced 4G mobile technology with faster speeds for data and download video/movies, experts feel the time is ripe for India to move ahead towards next technology.

The three-day event which started on Wednesday has equipment providers, telecom operators and other infrastructure firms showcasing solutions for pre 5G and 5G technology.

Leading telecom player Bharti Airtel showcased the deployment of massive MIMO (multiple input multiple output) technology, which it calls a step towards 5G. It has deployed this technology in Bengaluru and Kolkata. Global equipment makers Huawei and ZTE also showed their solutions for 5G capabilities, while domestic player Sterlite Technologies presented the locally developed 5G solution.

Massive MIMO technology will increase spectrum efficiency by six to ten times. Besides, it will significantly reduce networking costs, enhancing intensive coverage and user experience in India.

Huawei and ZTE are the partners of Bharti who have deployed these solutions in its network.

Huawei began investing in 5G research and development in 2009 and plans to invest $600 million globally in this technology by 2018. "The 5G era is approaching, and we are confident that 5G deployment in India will happen in line with the global timeline," said Jay Chen, CEO, Huawei India.

"Huawei continues to promote joint innovation with operators in the 5G field around the world and in India, and is joining hands with upstream and downstream industry partners to promote the sustainable development of the 5G industry," Chen said.

Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said, "India will no longer be behind the curve in terms of technology but instead be head-to-head with the globe. So as 5G starts to develop globally, India is keeping a very close track. All of us players in the marketplace will ensure that India is rewarded with the latest technology for the benefit of the society."

Huawei said it is continually investing in market-specific partnerships, developing localised solutions and conducting trials to ensure that India joins the ranks of other developed global economies in 5Gs commercial roll-out. Last month Huawei released its 5G-oriented mobile bearer solution 'X-Haul', which is now available in India. The solution will help operators in India build end-to-end 5G networks.

The global standards on 5G are yet to be finalised, but even the Indian government and telecom regulator TRAI has jumped onto the bandwagon so that India is at par with global countries in adoption of new technology.

Earlier this week, the Department of Telecommunications announced setting up of a high-level committee on 5G technology with an initial corpus of Rs 500 crore. The committee will lay down a roadmap for rollout of the 5G technology by 2020.

"We have created a high-level 5G committee that will work on vision mission and goals of 5G. When the world will roll out 5G in 2020, India will be at par with them," minister for communications Manoj Sinha had said.

Under the 5G technology, the government aims to deliver about 10,000 megabit per second in urban areas and 1000 Mbps in rural locations. "We have already missed the bus in 3G and 4G, where India was not part of any formulation which is why even a small chipset has to be imported by all companies," the minister said.

As per the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) committee on digital economic policy, it has been stated that 5G technologies rollout will help in increasing GDP, creating employment and digitising the economy. For India, 5G provides an opportunity for the industry to reach out to global markets.