DoT to roll out 5G technology roadmap by June this year

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is all set to roll out a roadmap for 5G technology in India. The test-bed strategy is expected to be operational by June this year.

Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan has said that DoT is in the process of framing new policies and getting positive inputs for the new generation. The draft of the Network Time Protocol (NTP) 2018 is in final stages and will be put in public soon, reports IANS.

The 5G technology will be anchored by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is also laying the ground for companies wanting to conduct research for the next phase of mobile technology.

Also Read: Government to start 5G test bed in six months, roll out technology by 2020

The regulator has also issued a set of recommendations to the Centre as a part of the suggestions on the ease of doing business in the country.

The Indian government too seems to be equally determined about introducing 5G technology in the country.

It has already set up a high-level forum comprising officials from the DoT, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, and the Department of Science & Technology, with representatives from industry and academia to accelerate the process of research and development of technologies as well as standards pertaining to 5G.

Swedish telecom gear-maker, Ericsson, which is readying itself for 5G in India, has invested around $4 billion in research and development. Last week, it had raised $370 million from the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and AB Svensk Exportkredit to invest in research – that include further developing of 5G and other mobile innovations.

The average data usage in India was estimated to grow from 3.9 GB per month per smartphone by end-2017 and will reach 18 GB per month per smartphone by 2023.

Growth in LTE subscriptions, increasing smartphone penetration and demand for video-driven data will drive usage of 5G.

According to an industry, estimation, 5G has the potential to enable a $27.3-billion revenue opportunity for Indian telcos by 2026.