“5G is much more than the next generation of connectivity technology. I think of 5G as an acronym for “5 Goals” that fundamentally can transform our nation.”
- Mukesh Ambani
India is set to not only enable faster downloads but also pave the way for a number of new use-cases from cloud gaming to autonomous vehicles as 5G is now launched for Indian citizens.
ABOUT 5G
5th generation technology is designed to provide eminent data capabilities, call volumes and vast data broadcast within the latest mobile operating system. 5G provides speed much faster than 4G, supports lag-free connectivity, and can enable billions of connected devices to share data in real-time which will help in connecting the entire world beyond limits.
LAUNCH OF 5G IN INDIA
On 1st October 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 5G services at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi,which was adorned with 5G banners all around, indicating the success of the 5G that had been a remarkable vision all along. It all dates back to the India's biggest ever auction of telecom spectrum held recently which received a record Rs 1.5 lakh crore of bids, with Jio acquiring nearly half of all the airwaves sold with a Rs 88,078 crore bid, Bharti Airtel- Rs 43,084 crore, while Vodafone Idea Ltd-Rs 18,799 crore.
After the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went around the venue to have the first hand experience of what 5G is actually capable of. Big players of the market such as Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone were keen to showcase their capabilities with regard to 5G which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacting with the hologram of a student, with Delhi L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena who was present inside an under-construction DMRC tunnel, Automated guided vehicles, smart ambulances, augmented reality, smart agriculture programme and health diagnostics, among others.
“At the time of launch of 2G, 3G and 4G services, India was dependent on other countries. But with 5G, the country is setting foot in a new historical era, and is leading globally, A new India - the country is no longer just a consumer of technology but a contributor in its development too.", Mr. Narendra Modi proudly stated in his speech. Further, he stated that the technology was developed based on 4 pillars-cost of the device,digital connectivity,cost of data and the mindset of digital first,with the view to provide internet for all.
MARKET AVAILABILITY
5G is said to be launched in select cities this month and will progressively cover the entire country over the next couple of years. Busy cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai are expected to be the very first regions to get 5G access.
Jio plans to launch 5G in select cities-Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata by this Diwali and plans to reach the entire India by 2023,whereas Airtel plans to finish in March 2024.
While the pricing policy has not been declared yet, the companies assure their users that tariff plans for 5G would be close to the existing 4G plans. Users do not have to go through the hassle of buying a new sim card but they surely would need a 5G enabled smartphone.
CONCLUSION
According to Mr. Ambani, "India may have started a little late, but we will finish first by rolling out 5G services across the length and breadth of India". PM Modi asserted that this technology shouldn’t be limited to just voice calls or watching videos. This should be used to bring about a revolution, opening a new dimension.
Thus, 5G is much more than the next generation of technology. It actually unlocks the potential of other remarkable technologies like Artificial Intelligence,Robotics, Blockchain, and Metaverse. It will help in real-time monitoring of disasters, precision agriculture, and minimizing the role of humans in dangerous industrial operations such as in deep mines and offshore activities.
DID YOU KNOW?
The first country to adopt 5G on a large scale was South Korea, in April 2019
BY:
Bhramjot Kaur Saluja
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