5g technology: Fixing frequencies first

News: In the recent budget, the Finance Minister announced that the Government proposes to conduct the “required spectrum auctions” in 2022 to facilitate the roll-out of 5G mobile phone services in fiscal 2022-23. 

The government has been keen on implementing this technology due to its ability to serve as an enabler of economic growth and job creation. 

What is 5G technology? 

What are the possible challenges that can arise in 5G implementation? 

The government needs to come up with more information on the issues like particular frequencies that it is likely to recommend, its plans on pricing the spectrum, and most crucially, the very viability of the new technology.  

The Telecom sector is currently financially stressed, and thus the sector’s appetite for the highly capital intensive 5G technology is unlikely to be substantial at the moment. 

Even most countries that are more developed than India have commercialised 5G, deploying it as an upgraded replacement for 4G in terms of end-use. They still don’t have the industrial and public utility applications that India is targeting. 

What is the way forward? 

For the new technology to work at its optimum potential, the Government would need to not only offer the key operational frequencies but also crucially enable the transport or backhaul of signals between the base stations. 

Government should also focus on expanding the reach of existing mobile networks so that cost to benefit ratio for 5G deployment is positive. 

Source-This post is based on the article “Fixing frequencies first” published in The Hindu on 7th Feb 2022.