5G trials signal opportunities in India: Minister Devusinh Chauhan

The latest fifth generation (5G) field trials by telecom service providers demonstrates the sector's readiness to embrace next generation technology, and the existence of massive opportunities in the country, said junior communications minister Devusinh Chauhan.

"Recent 5G technology trials by telecom service providers with global and indigenous technology with India-specific applications have demonstrated the readiness of the sector and also the great opportunities that exist in India," the minister said. He added that the telecom department, through its policies, has been encouraging indigenous development of 5G technology and the results were quite exciting.

Chauhan was speaking at the second edition of the ETTelecom Digital Telco Virtual Summit - 2021.


"It is expected that by the third quarter of next year, we will have indigenously designed, developed and manufactured 5G mobile network. We are not resting with our present success. We have also set up a task force for the development of 6G technology in the country," Chauhan said.

Further, he said that the Indian telecom companies have successfully tested 4G mobile communication network elements, and state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) would soon deploy indigenously designed and manufactured 4G mobile networks.

The government has launched a slew of reforms and initiatives that would take the sector to a new level, and eventually propel the digital economy to $1 trillion, which in turn would fuel the $5 trillion Indian economy, the minister said.

"I can also assure you that this is not a one-off exercise, the Modi government will continue to chart the path of reforms in the sector," Chauhan added.
In September, the Centre came up with a range of initiatives that included nine structural and five procedural reforms to bring in relief for the telecom service operators.

In order to encourage investment, 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under automatic route is permitted in the telecom sector with safeguards, and a long-pending demand of rationalisation of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) to do away with non-telecom revenue has been accepted.

"Let us see the telecom sector from a different perspective. India is the largest democracy in the world and IT and telecom make it more vibrant. If the telecom network reaches the last person, it strengthens democracy," the minister said, adding that the availability of information to citizens makes the system more accountable and transparent.

He said connectivity improves governance for the betterment of the country, making it more responsive and approachable, while a robust network lays its foundation. "It has the capacity to transform a demographically-young nation like India into a new India."

Chauhan said that the growth of telecom networks since 2014 has been unprecedented.

The number of base transceiver stations (BTS) has nearly tripled from 8 lakhs to 23 lakhs, and usage has also grown exponentially from 317 minutes per subscriber per month to 813 while data usage increased from 0.2 GB to 14 GB per user a month, according to him.

Price of data per Gigabyte has gone down from Rs 200 in 2014 to less than Rs 10. Thus, India has witnessed a revolution in the telecommunications sector during the last seven years, he said, adding that it also underlines the success of the government's policies.