Where most of the other countries in the world are using 5G connectivity and have started working on 6G, India is still fighting with its infrastructure to roll out 5G. However, the Indian Government expects that the 5G services may roll-out in India in early 2022. As per reports tabled in Parliament on Monday, after six months, another round of spectrum auction is planned to get placed.
Moreover, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has been pulled up by the Standing Committee on Information Technology for the delay in the launch of 5G services whereas most of the other countries are currently enjoying the benefits of the 5G network. The auction of the spectrum will worth Rs 3.92 lakh crore from March 1, as per the announcement by the telecom ministry. But, unfortunately, it doesn’t include the desired frequency band for hazard-free 5G services.
As of now, it is also not confirmed by which time normal people will get their first 5G SIM in hand as it is said that the 5G is expected to roll-out in India by the end of the calendar year 2021 or beginning of 2022, but in some specific uses. It looks like the current 4G connectivity will continue in India for at least another 5-6 years (reports came from Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor, head of the parliamentary panel).
“From the foregoing, the committee is inclined to conclude that sufficient preparatory work has not been undertaken for launching 5G services in India. As such, India has not moved beyond the modest beginning stage as compared to other countries in the world,” the report said.
“So, it is likely that after missing the 2G, 3G, and 4G bus, India is going to miss 5G opportunities, unless time-bound action is taken in core areas where governmental intervention is required,” the report added.
“It is disappointing to note that the department (DoT) has hardly learned from the past delays as the vision for 5G, which was reflected in the constitution of the high-level forum and expert committees, has not been transformed into action on the ground and is not reflected in the policies formulated by the government,” the report further added.
