India is eagerly awaiting for 5G Launch, with the network being the most available, if not all popular countries, for quite some time. Add to this the increasing number of smartphones launched, with a focus on 5G and the subsequent introduction of the new band to accommodate sub-6 GHz and 5G based on MMW, leading to the absence of 5G in the country. It takes longer than that. . That said, Bharti Airtel recently announced that it has tested 5G in a commercial test, that too in the city of Hyderabad.
During that test, they were able to give good results, despite being on an older spectrum and using a method to combine 4G and 5G in one tower. It was able to produce some results, although they were far from what was being advertised around the world.
Whatever the outcome, this test indicated that brands are preparing for the launch of 5G, and when approved, the feature will be accessible to everyone without waiting too long.
This brings us to the question of when major telecom providers like Airtel, Vi and Jio will announce their plans.
What are the necessary bands for 5G?
The frequency bands required for 5G are not available in the country. For those who don’t know, TRAI is hosting a 700 MHz to 2500 MHz auction in March 2021, but this is inappropriate and will affect the deployment of 5G according to operators. Telco recommends selling spectrum from 3,300 to 3,600 MHz, which is the optimal spectrum for 5G.
However, keep in mind that the final decision on whether to sell the spectrum is up to the government and Telecom will have to say what the government has to say.
Reliance Jio 5G Plan
Reliance Jio, known as the pioneer of the 5G revolution in India, company president Mukesh Ambani announced on the day that Jio would lead the 5G revolution, starting in the second half of 2021.
The company also claimed that it could easily move from the existing infrastructure thanks to the converged network infrastructure.
Telco is also believed to be able to buy a large chunk of the 700 MHz spectrum in the next auction to fulfill its 5G ambitions until the government announces the 3300-3600 MHz auction, which will be for 5G, which is globally popular. The official launch of Jio 5G is expected sometime in October or November 2021.
Bharti Airtel 5G Plan
Bharti Airtel, the closest company to showing any kind of 5G, has yet to reveal its plans. The company also believes that the next generation of mobile technology needs more time to roll out across the country.
That being said, Airtel is preparing for 5G and its effective implementation, which recently underwent a commercial trial in the city of Hyderabad. Furthermore, it has already implemented its MIMO (Large-Scale Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology in areas such as Bengaluru and Kolkata.
Vodafone Idea (Vi) 5G plans
VA, popularly known as Vodafone Idea, is preparing to roll out 5G in India as soon as the spectrum is auctioned. The company has already upgraded its infrastructure to a 5G-based architecture, as well as additional technology such as dynamic spectrum reframing.
For testing, Telco proposes testing with various vendors, some of which include Huawei and Ericsson. However, Vi’s participation in the upcoming 5G auction will depend on its financial health over the next two quarters.
BSNL 5G Plan
BSNL remains in the dark when it comes to its 5G plans and will embrace the method for its implementation. Two years ago, in 2019, the company announced that it would be coming with a 5G corridor in Delhi, but there are no updates on this yet.
The corridor, which the company says will demonstrate the potential use of optimal data speeds at the 5G level, with the help of new technology, will also include information from the internal test center that BSNL said will be installed. At some point, BSNL also said that it completely ditches 4G technology and goes straight to 5G.
