Beyond 5G, into a faster future

Future telecom services will enable quicker downloads, higher remote work efficiency, and seamless access to cloud-based services and apps

- VIKAS SHARMA

From the invention of telephones to smartphones, computers, and social media platforms, the advent of the digitalisation and Internet has certainly changed the way we communicate with each other. In this context, taking digital transformation and connectivity to new heights, the government launched 5G technology-a fifth-generation wireless technology that promises faster speeds, lower latency, and the ability to connect more devices simultaneously-in 2022 for various industries, with telecom being no exception.

Currently, India is the world's second-largest telecommunications market, with a subscriber base of 1,170.75 million in January 2023, and has registered strong growth in the last decade. Indeed, 2G, 3G, and 4G have effectively delivered most of those promises, primarily by offering faster data connectivity speeds. However, the adoption of 5G has influenced how people and professionals interact, work, and acquire information, revolutionising the future of telecom services. A DeloitteConfederation of Indian Industry study projects that every three years, the launch of 5G services and the subsequent improvements will probably propel an expansion of USD 12.5 billion in the Indian telecom industry.