India has taken a much awaited step towards having its own 5G network, which is the next revolution in the field of telecommunication. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), on May 4, gave its nod to telecom companies to conduct trials for use and applications of 5G technology in India. However, the service is not expected to be commercially available anytime soon.
The total duration of these trials is six months currently, out of which two months will be allotted for setting up of the equipment and such facilities. Chinese telcos, unsurprisingly, have been kept out of this process.
Indian private telcos, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Reliance Jio, and the state owned MTNL will participate in the trials. The trials are expected to start within the next two to three months.
The technology will work largely in three bands – Low, Mid, and High frequency spectrum. Although, experimental spectrum will be given in these bands, companies’ existing spectrum can also be used to conduct the trials.
Some of these companies have arranged tie-ups with original technology providers and equipment manufacturers such as Nokia, Ericson, C-Dot; though, Reliance Jio is expected to come up with its own technology to conduct these trials.
This is also in line with DoT’s plan to transform India into a manufacturing and export hub of equipment related to 5G technology. The inclusion of telecom sector in Production Linked Incentive scheme of the Government can become instrumental in materialising the goal of India’s manufacturing and technological uprising.
Misinformation, however, continues to be a hurdle in this industrial advancement of the Indian telecom sector. Citing that trials of 5G technology is potentially a health risk, and is possibly related the deadly second wave of Covid-19, people in various parts of India have protested these developments.
Why protest? Is 5G risky for health?
Social Media is filled with rumours about 5G being the major reason behind the ongoing pandemic. According to a report by Business Standard, certain groups have amassed at several semi-urban and rural areas in states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Bihar, and Punjab to protest the DoT’s move. They want to put a stop to 5G trials, and have even uprooted existing mobile towers. The question remains, though, how can 5G trials are responsible for the ongoing second wave if the former is yet to begin?
"Moreover, it is informed that the testing of the 5G network has not yet started anywhere in India. Hence, the claim that 5G trials or networks are causing coronavirus in India is baseless and false," the DoT had said.
Prompted by the protests, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group for the telecom sector, has reached out to international organisations like The International Telecommunication (ITU), World Health Organisation (WHO), and International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and sought their assistance to curb the misinformation.
Some telcos have said that associating 5G with the virus can be the work of “vested interests” opposed to the trial runs, and subsequently, COAI has brought this matter to DoT’s notice.
According to the WHO, viruses cannot be transmitted by means of radio waves transmitted by telecommunication devices. This has been confirmed by the fact that coronavirus is present even in countries that do not have a 5G network. ITU has also debunked these claims, saying that they are not based on science. DoT and ICNIRP have also maintained that non-ionizing waves cannot damage the living cells, and the electromagnetic field guidelines have strict regulations for exposure limits and take into consideration all aspects of possible adverse effect on health.
5G and its applications
DoT said that, “the 5G technology is expected to deliver improved user experience in terms of greater download speeds, upto three times greater spectrum efficiency, and ultra-low latency (the amount of time a networks need to process large amount of data) to enable Industry 4.0.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, in the past, also emphasised on the need of bringing 5G technology in the country.
5G is expected to bring a revolution in the sector. The fifth generation of wireless technology is designed for never seen before speeds and maximum capacity. It has the potential to dramatically change the face of many industries, from healthcare, to agriculture, to communications, to entertainment, to Virtual reality, to logistics, and much more.
To put things into perspective, Nokia registered a speed of record 8 Gbps on a commercial 5G network in Finland. As per Ookla, in 2020, South Korea had an average internet speed of 121 mbps, while India operated with an unimpressive average of 12mbps. According to a US report published in Fortune Magazine, 5G on an average is 10 to 50 times quicker than 4G LTE.
Issues with 5G in India
India has been a laggard in 5G technology so far. While South Korea, US, and some other countries have started rolling out 5G network commercially, India has now finally given the assent to conduct trials.
India is a huge market for telecom operators, but the problem is the pricing of 5G network which is sky high apparently. This pricing issue is on the top of the cash crunch in the industry due to low data prices in the country. The current data tariffs are unsustainable, and the operators are already under huge debts. This has forced multiple companies to leave the market. The surviving ones are on the edge as well.
The divide between rich and the poor means 5G will create a huge digital divide. A Parliamentary Panel report on 5G in India also flagged concern about this. It recommended at least 6 years of 4G in India right now.
Jio's Ambitious plans
After changing India's telecom industry, Jio is eagerly waiting for the 5G trials to begin, and the spectrum to be auctioned. Last year, Mukesh Ambani announced that Jio will rollout it's 5G by mid-2021. Though that will not happen, his plans to go beyond India's borders is still on track. Ambani had told publically that Jio services will also be exported out of India once it succeeds in the home country.
While other operators have tied up with international manufacturers for equipment and technology help, Jio will use its own indigenously developed technology to test its 5G network.
Ban on Chinese Operators
Chinese Tele communication giants like Huawei, and ZTE were not included in the list DoT shared on May 4. This formally puts out these companies from conducting 5G trials on Indian Territory.
According to the security directive released in December last year, the Government had hinted about excluding Chinese companies when it said it would identify “trusted sources” that service providers can use in their networks.
Huawei and ZTE were not officially banned which means they can still supply technologies, and other facilities such as equipment to Indian telcos, but the Government is set to come up with new procurement rules which might bar Indian Service Providers to deal with these companies.
India has been facing troubles with China at the Ladakh border. This has prompted Indian Government to employ tough measures against the Communist ruled country. The refusal to Huawei and ZTE can be seen as one of those measures.
Ministry of External had already clarified last year that there cannot be “business as usual” with the Chinese. China’s unwanted aggression on its borders has already made countries beware of its intentions.
Many countries including, Australia, Japan and, the US (India’s QUAD partners) have already barred Huawei from their 5G developmental process, citing security reasons. China’s latest Intelligence Law gives the Chinese Communist Party disproportionate powers which has been a point of concern for many countries.
China’s Response
Beijing has expressed concern on India’s decision, “We express concern and regret that Chinese Telecommunication companies have not been permitted to conduct 5G trials. To exclude Chinese Telecommunication companies from the trial will not only harm their legitimate rights and interests, but also hinder the improvement of the Indian business environment,” said Chinese Embassy spokesperson in New Delhi.
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This article is written by Gaurav Thakur