5G Technology for Next-Gen Revolution And Current India’s Telco Situation

First, we must understand that in the wireless connection, the resources that a wireless communication user uses for communication are the frequency carriers (or frequency bands). Frequency bands can be imagined as roads and data or voice communication can be imagined as traffic flows on those roads. The wider the frequency band the more data can flow and at high speed.

Each mobile user or application user uses a specific band for uplink (Upload) or downlink (Download) communication with the network. However, as more users connect, 4G is now becoming capable of handling such huge traffic. Now, not only mobile devices but also other devices (IoT applications) are becoming more frequent to connect to the Internet. Applications on mobile phones are generating huge amounts of data traffic from various OTT applications, and therefore the spectrum is becoming increasingly crowded. We may all have heard the term “Data is the new oil.” Yes, that’s true, it’s true. Businesses and organizations are now increasingly data-driven to drive their businesses. Therefore, the traditional voice business of telecommunications operators is now becoming less important over time.

5G is becoming a necessity for now as we need to open up the spectrum to meet the needs of the growing data demands of wireless traffic. 5G is projected to be up to 10 times faster than the current 4G / LTE network. In simple terms, we can imagine that in 4G we need 7 minutes to download an HD movie, then, in the case of 5G, it would only require up to 6-7 seconds. Also, the latency or time to connect to the network will be as fast as 1 millisecond for 5G. It is often described as ultra-reliable low latency communication technology (URLLC).

Total global mobile data traffic is projected to reach around 38 exabytes per month by the end of 2020 and is projected to grow 4 times a month in 2025. More than 6 billion people are forecast to consume data using smartphones. , laptops, and a host of new IoT devices in the next 5-6 years from now. By 2025, an additional 500 million smartphone users are expected in India. In the recent past, average monthly data usage by user equipment has seen an extraordinary increase that is becoming higher in the world. This is due to the low prices of mobile broadband services, affordable smartphones, and viewing habits of users in India.

4G is characterized by LTE’s long-term evolution of network architecture, which is the first flat IP and packet-switched network architecture. However, 5G technology will follow the same pattern, but it is known for NR (New Radio), that is, the new spectrum range that will open for various applications and use cases. As discussed above, there is a great need for new spectrum to become available as more and more devices connect to the network. In simple terms, the 5G implementation is an evolution of 4G that is based on spectrum assets. 5G is broadly divided into two spectrum regions:

1) FR1 (sub6Ghz) or <6 GHz: the maximum bandwidth of the channel is defined as 100 Mhz in this band since this range is overcrowded by various existing technologies in progress and their traffic. It has been decided to auction 3.3-4.4 GHz of this band for 5G use.

2) FR2 (mmWave) or> 24Ghz – This is the most underutilized band and researchers are currently in the process of maximizing the potential for this range. This range has been defined by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project), a standardization body for telecommunications generations as a millimeter-wave range (mmWave). This band has the potential to carry huge data traffic with extremely low latency and high performance.

So here comes a question, if the millimeter-wave frequency is capable of delivering great data rates, why still use sub-6Ghz for 5G communications? The answer to the question is quite simple. High-frequency waves do not carry long distances. These frequencies can be simply absorbed by any obstacle such as trees, buildings, etc. These frequency ranges are capable of short-range communication and to establish communication for a particular geographic area, it is necessary to install a large number of antennas at very short distances that would increase capital expenditure.

5G services will be a good combination of coverage and capacity for end-users. 5G will use less than 6Ghz frequency for traditional mobile communication. It will also open up the mmWave range frequency opportunities for other potential applications and use cases such as autonomous vehicles, portable device communication, IoT applications, etc.

With the rapid development in the standardization of 5G technology, companies have already begun to explore business opportunities in various sectors. Due to the immense opportunities that 5G could open, telecommunications companies are projected to derive 70% of their net income from these opportunities and only 30% of their traditional businesses. The following are the few use cases that can be explored in various sectors with the help of 5G:

Autonomous vehicles: With the advent of high-speed 5G data connectivity, vehicles could connect with each other, interact with traffic signals, see around corners, and consequently make decisions autonomously without human intervention. There is a standard that is being widely discussed, CV2X (cellular vehicle for everything) communication that will eventually use 5G technology for this purpose. China has made progress in providing dedicated 5G bands for this purpose. However, western countries like the United States / United Kingdom are still in progress on this opportunity. The 5G 1 millisecond delay, which is extremely low, plays a crucial role in making this happen, which is approximately 30-40 milliseconds for the existing 4G.

Home automation: With the help of smart internal devices connected via IoT, we can harness the full potential of automation in 5G. Smartly connected appliances can be remotely controlled and controlled via mobile apps. For that, each device must be connected to the 5G network.

Industrial automation or Industry 4.0: Today’s manufacturing industry is under immense pressure to improve product quality, efficiency, safety, and sustainability and to stay ahead of the market in terms of profitability and revenue. IoT-enabled 5G would aid in autonomous regulation, flooding processes with sensors and actuators that require ultra-low latency, and a reliable wireless connection to drive RPA (Robotic Process Automation) processes and reduce human labor on repetitive tasks.

Connected wearables: 5G technology will power the future of portable devices by connecting them together. On portable devices, 5G will bring real-time tracking, more precision, and accuracy, data-driven analysis of our health and goals. With 5G connectivity, portable devices will be able to calculate more, require less monitoring, and constantly add more functionality to their devices by taking advantage of automation and AI capabilities.

Health care: With the help of high-speed connectivity, doctors and nurses could perform remote robotic surgery and monitor patient health in real-time. This requires very high precision that could be made possible in the future with the help of 5G’s ultra-reliable low-latency communication technology. Also, if something unusual happens in a patient’s health, such as a sudden drop in blood pressure, the body does not respond to the prescribed dose of medication, the connected portable devices could inform everyone involved in their medical treatment in real-time.

5G networks were expected to launch in India in late 2020, but now due to various factors, it is delayed and could be launched in mid to late 2021. The Indian Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI), the telecommunications regulatory body in India, has recommended that the spectrum available for 5G services be from 3300 to 3400 Mhz and from 3425 to 3600 Mhz for the mid-band range.

The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of India has recommended a 5G wave base price to Rs 492 crore per Mhz of the spectrum and has proposed the sale of minimum blocks of 20 MHz. This means that a telecom operator would spend close to Rs 10K crore by 20MHz. Telecommunications operators lack the cash flow for such a high auction price. In addition, telecommunications companies have past spectrum liabilities and the fees to be recovered. Due to these reasons, Vodafone-Idea & Airtel is expected to participate in the 5G auction on a limited basis. However, Reliance Jio had expressed concern about the huge prices of the 5G spectrum.

For Indians to take advantage of 5G, they need to have 5G-enabled phones, and operators need the spectrum license and 5G equipment to deploy on the network. Although 5G mobile equipment is reaching Indian markets, the rollout of the network and 5G spectrum will take time when it comes to India.