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What is the News?
The Prime Minister has inaugurated India’s first 5G testbed facility.
What is a 5G Testbed?
The 5G testbed has been developed as a multi-institute collaborative project by eight institutes led by IIT Madras.
Purpose: It will enable startups and industry players to test and validate their products locally and reduce dependence on foreign facilities.
Note: In the absence of a 5G testbed in India, startups and other industry players were required to go abroad to test and validate their products for installation in a 5G network.
What is 5G?
What is 5Gi Technology?
5Gi is a locally designed telecommunication network that has been designed by IIT Hyderabad, IIT Madras and the Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology.
Purpose: 5Gi technology is capable of working at a lower frequency than 5G by still providing a higher range. It works on a Low Mobility Large Cell method which transmits a cell-based waveform which results in increased range.
Significance for India: If implemented in the right manner, the 5Gi technology can be beneficial for a country like India as the large scale implications will make the technology cost-effective. Additionally, owing to its high range, 5Gi will be able to provide better network connectivity in the rural area of the country.
Source: The post is based on the article “PM inaugurates country’s first 5G testbed” published in The Hindu on 19th May 2022.