Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches 5G services at India Mobile Congress 2022 in New Delhi
On October 01, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 5G services in New Delhi. Initially, it is being launched in select cities, while in the next few years, it will cover the entire country. During this, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the 6th India Mobile Congress 2022.
This technology will provide high data rates and highly reliable communication without latency. 5G technology will also increase the efficiency of energy, spectrum, and network.
The government aims to provide 5G services across the country in two years. About three lakh crore rupees will be invested for this. Digital connectivity has been an important part of the government's flagship policy programs Digital India, Startup India, and Make in India.
Airtel has launched 5G services in eight cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and Varanasi. Reliance JIO will launch it by Diwali. Vodafone Idea will also soon provide 5G service.
5G technology
5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after every 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G network. This enables a new type of network that is designed to connect almost everyone banding together, including machines, objects, and equipment. Internet speed in the high-band spectrum of 5G has been tested.20 Gbps (gigabit per second), while the maximum internet data speed recorded in 4G is 1 Gbps in most cases.
Indian Mobile Congress (IMC 2022)
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the 6th edition of the Indian Mobile Congress 2022 (IMC). It will be organized from October 01 to 04, 2022. The theme of IMC 2022 is 'The New Digital Universe'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches 5G services at India Mobile Congress 2022 in New Delhi
On October 1, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 5G services in India at the 6th edition of India Mobile Congress 2022 (IMC-2022) held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. This historic event marked the beginning of a new digital era in the country, as India became one of the first nations in the world to roll out 5G technology.
The launch of 5G services was the culmination of years of intense preparation by the government, the telecom industry and the academia. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had conducted successful 5G spectrum auctions in August 2022, allocating 51,236 MHz to Telecom Service Providers with a gross revenue of Rs. 1,50,173 Crores. The auction reflected the high demand for a robust 5G ecosystem that can cater to various use cases involving the Internet of Things (IoT), Machine to Machine (M2M), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Edge Computing, Robotics, and more.
5G is expected to unleash new economic opportunities and societal benefits for India, as it has the potential to transform various sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and entertainment. According to a report by IHS Markit, the cumulative economic impact of 5G on India is expected to reach $450 Billion by 2035.
To facilitate the smooth deployment of 5G infrastructure, DoT amended Right of Way (RoW) Rules 2016 in August 2022, wherein the charges for RoW permissions were made reasonable and a ceiling for RoW charges for the installation of 5G small cells and optical fiber cable on street furniture was fixed. DoT had also set up a 5G Testbed with the help of IITs, IISc Bengaluru, and SAMEER to develop indigenous technology in 2018. A 5G Hackathon was commenced in 2020, to trigger ideation and prototyping of use cases by startups and has led to spurring innovative products. An inter-ministerial committee on 5G use cases has been functioning since 2021 in coordination with 12 Central Ministries, enabling the setting up of 5G use-case labs. Consultations with Industry have been held enabling the 5G ecosystem to make 5G handsets available. A roundtable was held in Mumbai with Investors, Bankers, and Industry on 5G Business opportunities and to identify key interventions by the Government. C-DOT has developed an indigenous 5G Non-Stand Alone (NSA) core. C-DOT is also developing a 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) in collaboration with local industries and start-ups. C-DOT has already tested its 4G Core in collaboration with TCS and Tejas Networks successfully. All these initiatives have contributed to the Prime Minister’s vision of “Jai Anusandhan” and have made India a global leader in telecom technology.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the IMC-2022, which is the leading digital event in Asia with the theme of ‘Encapsulate, Engage, and Experience a New Digital Universe’. The main objective of the IMC-2022 is to promote new technologies, particularly the indigenous ones, and let Citizens experience the usages and applications of 5G. The other objectives are promoting local manufacturing, fostering international regional cooperation, inspiring inclusive & sustainable development, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, and driving foreign and local investments, amongst others.
The Prime Minister addressed the gathering of industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and media at the IMC-2022 and said that “5G is a knock on the doors of a new era in the country. 5G is the beginning of an infinite sky of opportunities”. He added that “New India will not remain a mere consumer of technology, but India will play an active role in the development and implementation of that technology”. He also said that “With 5G, India is setting a global standard in telecom technology for the first time”.
The Prime Minister highlighted the achievements of Digital India in empowering millions of Indians with access to affordable and quality digital services. He said that “From exporting zero mobile phones in 2014, today we have become a mobile phone exporting country worth thousands of crores”. He also said that “I always had full faith in the understanding, wisdom, and inquisitive mind of the common man of the country”. He praised the role of Digital India in giving a platform to small traders, small entrepreneurs, local artists, and artisans. He said that “5G technology will not be limited to speedy internet access, but it has the capability to change lives”.
The Prime Minister thanked the telecom industry for their efforts in making India 5G ready and expressed confidence that 5G will usher in a new era of growth and development for the country. He said that “The launch of 5G services is not just a technological milestone, but also a moment of pride for every Indian”.
