5G ERA WILL PLACE SKILLING ON THE FAST LANE

The next-generation telecom network will drive growth across sectors, creating new opportunities and better job options in India

- LT GEN DR S P KOCHHAR

India successfully launched 5G in the country last year, becoming one of the 95 nations to achieve this feat. With ultra-low latency and high data speed, 5G is on its way to becoming an extremely reliable communication system, connecting every corner of rural and urban India and seamlessly transferring real-time information.

The launch of 5G has also amplified the demand for a wide array of skilled manpower to meet the nation's deployment needs. Estimates by staffing firms indicate that 5G services in India will likely create a demand for up to 45,000 jobs by the end of this financial year. The mere anticipation of the 5G rollout has already resulted in 80,000 5G-related hirings in the calendar year 2022.

As per TSSC, India may require an estimated 22 million skilled workers possessing 5G-related competencies by 2025. It is also likely to generate direct and indirect job opportunities significantly, thereby opening new avenues for people and businesses with the potential to change the economic landscape of India. The hike in demand for 5G-related skills is not just limited to the telecom sector.

Various applications of 5G will also necessitate skill development and specialisation across diverse functional areas, including resources for sectors like education, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, energy and utilities, retail, financial services, logistics and transportation, mining, automobile, media and entertainment, etc. In effect, 5G is expected to trigger societal transformation in India by strengthening the use of ICT across sectors and thereby propelling Industry 4.0 and value creation to the next level. As a result, India will witness a thrust in the economy, access to the international markets, and most importantly, new tech-focused job opportunities.

NEW JOBS, NEWER OPPORTUNITIES