In a significant announcement, BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava on a panel on Digital dividend said that 5G technology will be launched by the company in the next two years. Shrivastava made this announcement in the India ka DNA 2019 Conclave organised by Zee Media. 

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He said, "BSNL was the first to begin 3G in the country. As the world is gearing up for 5G, we are trying to begin 5G services in India also by 2020".  The BSNL launch will be in tandem with the global launch of 5G technology. 

According to a DNA report, BSNL and Nokia have signed a MOU for rolling out 5G in India. Shrivastava during the panel discussion stressed on how PM Modi's Digital India campaign has helped the industry considerably and have helped in enhanced connectivity, thus giving a boost to increased digitisation.  5G is expected to be around 10 times faster than 4G.

The government too is doing its part for rollway of 5G technology. It has sanctioned Rs 224 crore fund for setting up an indigenous 5G test bed in the country by Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institute of Science. The new telecom policy will have more clarity on 5G. 

"We were late in launching 3G and 4G services in India. But, we would not be left behind in launch of 5G technology. We will be at par with global industry," telecom minister Manoj Sinha said last week. 5G is estimated to give around  $27 billion revenue opportunity for telcos by 2026. In US companies are looking to roll out 5G by mid of 2019. According to projection, around 50% of users will migrate to 5G by 2023 in North America.