A MOONSHOT FOR INDIA

As India is paving its way for next-generation 5G connectivity, here is a peek at the milestones it has crossed and the challenges that remain

- PRATIMA HARIGUNANI

When you aim for the moon (literally), you do three things. One, coral resources and expertise that would, otherwise, lie latent. Two, get an edge over other countries even if you fail some initial attempts. And three, in hurling a man or a rocket at the moon, you stretch your limits of infrastructure, talent, skills, and disruption- to the hilt.

So, when Ericsson chief Borje Ekholm said recently that India's 5G rollout is the fastest globally, and that by the end of 2023, the country will be ahead of others, he might be on to something. And his gaze is not an exception but concurs with what many other lenses have witnessed.

India's ambitious 5G path seems nothing short of a space mission. More so, as it is a race that will matter on a global firmament.

FIREWORKS AND PROJECTILES

As per the Nokia Mobile Broadband Index report, mobile data traffic in India jumped 3.2x in the last five years, hitting over 14 exabytes per month. Interestingly, mobile data consumption increases are coinciding with the launch of commercial 5G services in the country in October 202. This is because Communication Service Providers are on a good pace to deploy 5G networks and expand to newer areas at a fast pace. More than 70 million 5G devices are estimated to have been shipped to India in 2022. This confirms strong traction for 5G in the market.

This direction is echoed in the findings of Cyber Media Research Mobile Handset Market Review Report for CY2022 as well, which indicates that India's 5G smartphone momentum continued through CY2022. The share of 5G smartphone shipments increased to 31% in 2022, registering an overall growth of 74% over the previous year. As many as USD 20 Billion value of 5G Smartphones were shipped in 2022.