The 5G spectrum auctions were nothing less than a game of thrones. Strong and well-established companies like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Adani Data Networks competed against each other. The spectrum auctions ended on 1st August 2022, and now we all are waiting for the 5G services to begin in India. Let’s get some details about what’s going on.
What’s Happening?
The 7-day 5G spectrum auctions ended on 1st August 2022. The government had come up with this spectrum auction to allocate various frequencies to the private sector. After winning the bids, these companies have the right to use the radio frequency and roll out 5G internet connectivity services.
The government had 72 GHz (gigahertz) of 5G airwaves worth Rs 4.3 lakh crore on offer, valid for 20 years.
On Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the wait is over, and 5G mobile services will soon start in India. With 5G, India’s Techade (decade powered by the impact of technology) is finally here!
He further said that 5G along with semiconductor manufacturing and Optical Fiber Cable (OFCs) in villages would bring a massive revolution.
When Will The 5G Service Roll Out?
The CEO of Bharti Airtel, Gopal Vittal, recently confirmed that they would roll out 5G services by the end of August in partnership with big tech companies such as Samsung, Nokia, and Ericsson.
They have also revealed plans to cover all the towns and cities, including rural areas, by 2024.
The telecom operators will roll out 5G services in the pilot phase in major cities and then slowly cover rural areas of India.
Why is 5G a Game Changer?
- The first element is lightning speed! The 4G we use currently offers a speed of 21 Mbps (megabits per second). But with 5G, you can download up to 10 GB (gigabyte) per second, which means you can download a movie in full HD in less than a minute!
- 5G can support over 1,000 more devices per metre than 4G.
- 5G speed will boost the metaverse and other augmented reality applications.
What’s Lies Ahead?
Recently the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has proposed to sell an additional 5,500 MHz of 5G spectrum, worth over Rs 35,000 crore. This proposal is yet to be reviewed by the committee of secretaries.
According to Economic Times, the telecom sector is expected to add 6,000 jobs in the current July-September quarter.
Not just that, 5G will also bring new, unique and smart apps such as smart ambulances and cloud gaming and even boost augmented reality-driven applications.
It will be a whole new experience to surf the internet with 5G lightning speed!
Until then, don’t forget to share this article with your friends.
