India To Usher In 5G Technology
India is all set to roll out trials of the fifth generation or 5G mobile communications technology within the next 100 days. This next generation mobile phone network promises much higher connection speeds, lower latency (response times) and increased reliability than the current 4G networks.
The new-age 5G technology will add evolutionary and revolutionary services that can have deep impact on the country. Five G is expected to supplement the 2G, 3G and 4G mobile networks currently deployed. The superfast 5G will play a major role in digital inclusion. It has the potential for a major societal transformation in India.
Taking charge on June 3, the Indian Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "It shall be our endeavour that 5G technology is also used for deprived sections, social causes, education and health, and for bringing technology to rural people."
Trials are slated to go on for at least six months and beyond. Beginning next year, 5G technologies are expected to enter services gradually, and advance to a full range of services by 2024. The term World Wide Wireless Web (WWWW) has been coined for 5G.
Previous generation mobile networks delivered services only on personal phone platforms. In the First generation, 1G, phones were analogue, and were the first mobile or cellular phones to be used. Although they were revolutionary in their time, they offered very low levels of spectrum efficiency and security.
The Second generation or 2G was based around digital technology. It offered much better spectrum efficiency, security and new features such as text messages and low data rate communications. The aim of the Third generation, 3G, technology was to provide high speed data. The Fourth generation, 4G, (Internet Protocol) was an all-IP based technology capable of providing data rates up to 1 (One) Gbps.
The 5G services will go beyond these. Five G will also connect many new devices—such as machines, sensors, vehicles, robots and drones-to support a wide range of applications and services. All these can trigger new economic opportunities, giving 5G the potential for being a transformational force for the Indian society.
It will enable the country to leapfrog the traditional barriers to development. 5G will also advance the reach and utility of ‘Digital India’ and allied missions. The networks will help power a huge rise in Internet of Things (IoT) technology, providing the infrastructure needed to carry huge amounts of data, allowing for a smarter and more connected world.
Five G has flexibility to support a wide number of applications to suit India’s needs. Its value for India may be even higher than in advanced countries because of the lower levels of investments in physical infrastructure.
A good example is telephony. India’s telephone density till the late 1990s remained small due to high cost fixed line telephony. However, the arrival of 21 mobile networks vastly reduced the cost of service delivery. The country’s telephone penetration went from less than 5 percent in 1995 to 95 percent by 2010, bringing striking benefits to the Indian economy. A more recent example of a leapfrog effect is ride sharing made possible by wireless internet access on 4G smart phones. Though still early in its growth, vehicle sharing promises significant infrastructure value.
In manufacturing, 5G will enable use of robotics for precision manufacturing, particularly where humans cannot perform these functions safely or with the necessary precision. 5G can also enable better logistics to track goods from raw materials to product delivery and improved sharing of expensive design and manufacturing resources across the country.
In agriculture, 5G can enable improvement in the entire value-chain, from precision farming, smart irrigation, improved soil and crop monitoring, to livestock management.
In the energy sector, ‘smart grids’ and ‘smart metering’ can be efficiently supported enabling growth of alternate energy technologies. In health-care, 5G can enable more effective tele-medicine delivery, tele-control of surgical robotics and wireless monitoring of vital statistics.
The new-age 5G technology will add evolutionary and revolutionary services that can have deep impact on the country. Five G is expected to supplement the 2G, 3G and 4G mobile networks currently deployed. The superfast 5G will play a major role in digital inclusion. It has the potential for a major societal transformation in India.
Taking charge on June 3, the Indian Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "It shall be our endeavour that 5G technology is also used for deprived sections, social causes, education and health, and for bringing technology to rural people."
Trials are slated to go on for at least six months and beyond. Beginning next year, 5G technologies are expected to enter services gradually, and advance to a full range of services by 2024. The term World Wide Wireless Web (WWWW) has been coined for 5G.
Previous generation mobile networks delivered services only on personal phone platforms. In the First generation, 1G, phones were analogue, and were the first mobile or cellular phones to be used. Although they were revolutionary in their time, they offered very low levels of spectrum efficiency and security.
The Second generation or 2G was based around digital technology. It offered much better spectrum efficiency, security and new features such as text messages and low data rate communications. The aim of the Third generation, 3G, technology was to provide high speed data. The Fourth generation, 4G, (Internet Protocol) was an all-IP based technology capable of providing data rates up to 1 (One) Gbps.
The 5G services will go beyond these. Five G will also connect many new devices—such as machines, sensors, vehicles, robots and drones-to support a wide range of applications and services. All these can trigger new economic opportunities, giving 5G the potential for being a transformational force for the Indian society.
It will enable the country to leapfrog the traditional barriers to development. 5G will also advance the reach and utility of ‘Digital India’ and allied missions. The networks will help power a huge rise in Internet of Things (IoT) technology, providing the infrastructure needed to carry huge amounts of data, allowing for a smarter and more connected world.
Five G has flexibility to support a wide number of applications to suit India’s needs. Its value for India may be even higher than in advanced countries because of the lower levels of investments in physical infrastructure.
A good example is telephony. India’s telephone density till the late 1990s remained small due to high cost fixed line telephony. However, the arrival of 21 mobile networks vastly reduced the cost of service delivery. The country’s telephone penetration went from less than 5 percent in 1995 to 95 percent by 2010, bringing striking benefits to the Indian economy. A more recent example of a leapfrog effect is ride sharing made possible by wireless internet access on 4G smart phones. Though still early in its growth, vehicle sharing promises significant infrastructure value.
In manufacturing, 5G will enable use of robotics for precision manufacturing, particularly where humans cannot perform these functions safely or with the necessary precision. 5G can also enable better logistics to track goods from raw materials to product delivery and improved sharing of expensive design and manufacturing resources across the country.
In agriculture, 5G can enable improvement in the entire value-chain, from precision farming, smart irrigation, improved soil and crop monitoring, to livestock management.
In the energy sector, ‘smart grids’ and ‘smart metering’ can be efficiently supported enabling growth of alternate energy technologies. In health-care, 5G can enable more effective tele-medicine delivery, tele-control of surgical robotics and wireless monitoring of vital statistics.
Script: K V Venkatasubramanian, Senior Journalist
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