The Indian Minister of Communications, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced on Tuesday that the country will achieve 100% 5G coverage by December 2024, according to a report from the Financial Express. The minister explained that India’s 5G technology is one of the fastest in the world and that the government had previously promised 5G coverage across 200 cities and districts by March 31 in the first phase. However, as of today, India has surpassed this target by covering 387 districts with 5G and deploying 100,000 base transceivers through Jio and Airtel 5G launch.
The report suggests that the faster pace of 5G coverage can be attributed to the competition between the two telecom players for the market share, increased consumption of data with evolved technology use cases, and easier right-of-way related permissions to lay telecom infrastructure. The minister added that 85% of the permissions to lay telecom towers are happening instantaneously, and the average duration to approve telecom infra-related requests is now 7 days, which was earlier 200 days.
During the Economic Times Global Business Summit (GBS) 2023, held earlier this month, the communications minister revealed that India’s locally developed 4G and 5G technology stack has drawn interest from over nine countries, making India a potential telecom technology exporter. However, according to reports, only 18 countries have shown interest in India’s 4G and 5G stack so far.
The report also revealed that the Indian government has been focusing on implementing indigenous technology stack to roll out 4G and 5G services by BSNL. The minister mentioned that the immediate target is to get the telecom bill passed in the coming monsoon session, which will lead to a major series of reforms in terms of spectrum, licences, and regulations.
Moreover, Akash Ambani, at a post-budget webinar of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, recently stated that Reliance Jio will undertake the fastest rollout of 5G in the world. He added that 5G will transform healthcare services, education, agriculture, and disaster management, making cities smart and societies safer.
With India’s progress in 5G technology, the country is set to become a major player in the global telecommunications industry. The widespread availability of 5G technology is expected to have a significant impact on various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and education, improving efficiency and productivity. Additionally, the government’s focus on indigenous technology stacks is expected to reduce reliance on foreign technology providers and promote self-sufficiency in the industry.
India’s success in 5G technology has drawn attention from other countries, indicating the potential for the country to become a leading exporter of telecom technology. The government’s efforts to streamline the process of laying telecom infrastructure and reducing approval time for infra-related requests are expected to further boost the growth of the telecom sector.
India’s plan to achieve 100% 5G coverage by December 2024 is an ambitious target, but the country’s progress so far suggests that it is achievable. The widespread availability of 5G technology is expected to have a significant impact on various sectors, improving efficiency and productivity. With the government’s focus on indigenous technology stacks and efforts to streamline the process of laying telecom infrastructure, India is set to become a major player in the global telecommunications industry.
