STREAMING THE FUTURE

India's 5G revolution is underway—unmatched deployment, rising AI powered innovation and major Ericsson announcements in antenna manufacture, R&D and managed services. Are we ready to capitalise on these developments?

- By ASHISH SINHA

INDIA’S 5G JOURNEY has raced from zero to global leadership in just under three years. Since its commercial launch in October 2022, India has rolled out nearly 475,000 5G base stations covering almost 99 per cent of the population. That feat not only makes it one of the fastest 5G deployments globally but has also placed the country firmly in the top tier in terms of average download speeds, with TRAI reporting speeds in excess of 280 Mbps.

But the focus is no longer just about blanket coverage. Operators are now shifting gears to enhance performance in high-footfall areas like airports, stadiums, and metro hubs. As Nitin Bansal, Managing Director of Ericsson India, puts it, “India’s focus is now shifting from coverage to enhancing user experience.” The numbers speak volumes: India crossed 270 million 5G subscribers in 2024 and is expected to reach 970 million by 2030, covering nearly three-fourths of its mobile base.

What's more interesting is how Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are embracing enhanced mobile broadband and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services, with use-cases like cloud gaming, 360° live streaming, and AI-enabled chatbots becoming mainstream. The consumer appetite is matched only by enterprise ambitions. Manufacturing hubs, logistics providers, and hospitals are tapping into low-latency, ultra-reliable connections. The Department of Telecommunications has also launched 100 5G Use Case Labs across the country to drive innovation at the grassroots level, involving academia, startups, and telecom partners.