ENABLING THE 5G REVOLUTION AND BEYOND IN INDIA

The fifth generation of telecom networks will lay the foundation of a successful 6G that can meet the needs of a hyper-connected future

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5G technology is expected to be a game-changer with its unprecedented data speed and capacity, and the ability to enable massive machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity, thus creating a more seamless digital experience for users across the enterprise and retail segments. However, its widespread adoption requires significant investments in infrastructure, spectrum allocation, and affordable network equipment, among others.

While we have embarked on the 5G journey in India, the efforts for making it accessible as well as affordable, will be an ongoing process, and involve a lot of learnings with trials and errors. The world is still hunting for the ‘killer app’ and until such decisive use cases be established to reassure profitability and sustenance for the sector, it is equally important to ensure that the financial health and viability of the sector are safeguarded to enable continuity to that phase.

FACILITATING FINANCIAL VIABILITY 

To make 5G more accessible as well as affordable, the most fundamental step would be to provide some relief to this heavily debt-ridden sector, on priority. The first quarter of FY22 witnessed a gross income of Rs 64,801 crore (USD 8.74 billion) in the telecom sector in India, while at the same time, the total debt of the industry stood at approximately Rs 4.73 lakh crore, as of 31 March 2022. This amply depicts the sector’s dire financial straits, which is hampering its growth potential.