New Delhi: According to Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, 5G deployment will start in 20 to 25 cities and towns by the end of the year. He also said that since data prices in India are currently much lower than the global average, the country will continue to set rate benchmarks as new services are rolled out. According to Vaishnav, the deployment of 5G will start in August or September. In order to strengthen its position as a trusted source for the world in digital networks, the minister claimed that India is building 4G and 5G stacks.
Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that 5G deployment will start in 20-25 cities and towns by the end of the year, and indicated that India, with its current data prices far below the global average, will be expected to launch new services. It will also continue to set the rate benchmark. , Vaishnav said that the deployment of 5G will start from August-September. The Minister said that India is developing 4G and 5G stacks, and is ready to strengthen its position as a trusted source for the world in digital networks. (Also Read: Agneepath Scheme: Banks Asked To Find Job Opportunities For ‘Agnivar’)
Speaking at an industry event, Vaishnav said that nations are keen to give preference to 4G and 5G products and technologies being developed by India. (Also read: Swiggy agent sent ‘Miss you’ message to the woman, the company replied)
The minister informed that to address the issue of unwanted calls, a “critical” regulation is in the works, which will enable the KYC-identified name of a caller to be displayed, informed the minister.
On 5G services, he said: “I can say with confidence that at least 20-25 cities and towns will start deploying 5G by the end of the year.”
When asked about the cost of 5G services, Vaishnav found that even today the data rates in India are around US$2 as against the global average of US$25.
“We are already the lowest in the world, at least by a factor of 10X…10X we are cheaper than the world, the same trend will happen in other regions as well,” he said. As India prepares to launch 5G services, it has also developed 4G and 5G technology stacks.
Underlining India’s resolve to match global progress in 4G and 5G and take technology lead in 6G, the Minister said that the world has noticed the country’s progress and shown serious interest in indigenous technologies being developed.
“The telecom network that supports mobile phones has to be a reliable network. India’s name tops the list of trusted network providers. When India develops a technology, the whole world is interested in it,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention that 5G services will usher in higher speeds – about 10 times faster than 4G – and give rise to new-age offerings and business models.
The government will auction airwaves worth around Rs 4.3 lakh crore capable of offering fifth generation or 5G telecom services, including ultra-high-speed internet, and has also given its nod for setting up captive 5G networks by tech firms.
The 72 GHz spectrum will be placed in the block during the 5G auction starting July 26, 2022.
On the issue of unwanted calls, Vaishnav said a new rule in the offing would be to be able to display the KYC name (as given in the mobile SIM application) when someone makes a call. The process of deliberation on this is still going on.
“Once the industry stakeholder consultation is completed, it will be implemented across the country,” the minister said.
To a query on the slow download speed experienced by the customers, the minister pointed out that India’s average data consumption is 18 GB per month, higher than the global average of 11 GB per month.
He said, “India’s data consumption is higher than that of highly developed countries. There is a need for more investment in infrastructure. Large scale investments in infrastructure are significant in the backdrop of data rates, call drops, call quality.”
The minister said the telecom sector reforms announced in September last year have brought stability to the industry.
He further said that at times it becomes difficult to install towers in Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai and other cities as people object to mobile towers. Electro-magnetic field (EMF) radiation norms in India are more stringent than the prescribed global limits, he said and assured that there is no reason to be concerned on this aspect.