Indian 5G Sites reach 3 Lakh Mark

There are currently 3,000 000 5G sites operating across the nation, according to Union Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The world's quickest 5G deployment is taking place in India. There are currently 3,000 000 5G sites operating across the nation, according to Union Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Two telecom companies in the country are actively deploying 5G: Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.

90% of census towns and cities have now received 5G service from Jio. Jio claims to have introduced 5G in 6258 towns and localities on its website. Airtel's current official count remains unknown.

However, given the pace at which 5G is being deployed in India, the entire nation ought to be covered by the technology by the end of 2023, in line with the objectives of the telecom companies.

The telecoms would face a hurdle in offering 100% 5G coverage, though. It would be necessary to build a very expensive, dense telecom infrastructure. Wherever it is launched, 5G is currently only offered in a few areas of the metropolis.

The Indian government is contributing to the quick deployment of 5G by the telecom industry. With the opening of the GatiShakti Sanchar portal, telecom operators may now obtain RoW (Right of Way) permissions very quickly. The procedure for gaining SAFCA authorization to deploy low-powered BTS (Base Transceiver Station), small cells, and other technologies has also been made simpler by the government.

The two main obstacles to 5G right now are coverage and monetization. Because there are currently few use cases for 5G, there is a significant mismatch between customers and this technology. Additionally, there isn't enough extensive 5G coverage for it to be a common occurrence for consumers.

A substantial overhaul of the communication system's underlying architecture will be necessary for 5G. Since 5G's inability to transmit data over greater distances is its primary drawback, existing infrastructure must be upgraded to support 5G.

One must update to the newest cellular technology in order to make the switch from 4G to 5G technology, placing a costly burden on consumers. India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia are among the Asia-Pacific nations that have been slow to implement 5G technology; as a result, they could see a decline in service income.

The government is attempting to inspire businesses and academic organisations to develop fresh 5G use cases. The "5G & Beyond Hackathon 2023" was organised by the DoT (Department of Telecommunications) to examine what else may be done in the 5G space.

Telecom companies must commercially introduce 5G services in both metro and non-metro circles in accordance with government regulations. Vodafone Idea is the only significant telecom provider in India that has not yet introduced 5G services. 36 test tower locations have been deployed by the business for its 5G experiments, which are now being conducted in Delhi and Pune. Once orders have been placed with equipment makers, commercial deployment will start.

Vodafone Idea also reportedly recently contacted the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to ask for a delay in order to meet the deadline for launching 5G services.

This rollout was initially scheduled to be completed by August 16. Vodafone Idea’s 5G rollout has been delayed owing to funding concerns.