The government has formed a high-level panel to evaluate and approve road maps and action plan to achieve the target of rolling out 5G technology in India by 2020. The Centre has created a support fund of about ₹500 crore to facilitate research and development for 5G.
‘Another opportunity’
“We missed the opportunity to participate when the standards were being set for 3G and 4G, and don’t want to miss the 5G opportunity. Now, when the standards are being set for 5G across the world, India will also participate in the process,” Minister of State for Communications Manoj Sinha told reporters.
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“As per the OECD Committee on Digital Economic Policy, it has been stated that 5G technologies rollout will help in increasing GDP, creating employment and digitising the economy,” Mr. Sinha added.
The forum, which comprises secretaries of the ministries of Communications, Information Technology and Science and Technology, along with representatives from the industry and academia, will aim to have Indian participation in the process of defining global standards for the next generation of wireless technology.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which will finalise the standards, has already proposed key performance requirements for fifth-generation mobile technology. Under 5G technology, the government aims to deliver about 10,000 megabits per second (10 Gbps) in urban areas and 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) in rural areas, the Minister said.
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The ‘5G 2020’ forum will also aim to strengthen domestic telecommunication equipment manufacturing that is necessary for the technology, with the aim that local manufacturers be enabled to capture 50% per cent of the Indian market and 10% of the global market over the next five to seven years.