5G is the next-generation wireless cellular technology that will enable ultra-low latency connection that is quicker and more dependable. According to a government panel analysis, peak network data speeds for 5G are estimated to be in the region of 2-20 Gigabit per second (Gbps). This can aid in effective governance and contribute to India’s economic prosperity.
Knowing about it is very significant from an exam standpoint because it is a game-changer technology in many sectors, including the economics, science and technology, and development.
Recent news:
- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently declared that 5G services will be available in India’s major metros next year.
- India, like other global players, had intended to launch 5G services as soon as feasible in 2018, in order to take advantage of the improved network speeds and strength that the technology offered.
- 5G spectrum auction will be conducted in FY23: Nirmala Sitharaman.
- Bharti Airtel has successfully conducted India’s first 5G trial in the 700 MHz band in partnership with Nokia, on the outskirts of Kolkata.
What is 5G technology?
- The fifth generation (or 5G) of long-term evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks is the most recent upgrade.
- 5G allows for the creation of a new type of network that connects nearly everyone and everything, including machines, objects, and gadgets.
- It’s a unified platform with far more capacity, lower latency, faster data delivery rates, and better spectrum utilisation than earlier mobile services.
The low, mid, and high-frequency spectrum
- 5G primarily operates across three bands: low, mid, and high frequency spectrums, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
- The low band spectrum has a lot of potential in terms of coverage and internet and data transfer speed, although the maximum speed is just 100 Mbps (Megabits per second).
- The low band spectrum may not be ideal for specialised needs of the industry, thus Telcos can use and deploy it for commercial cell phone users who may not have specific need for very high speed internet.
- The mid-band spectrum has faster speeds than the low-band spectrum, but it has limitations in terms of coverage area and signal penetration.
- This band could be utilised by industries and specialised production units to create captive networks that can be tailored to their specific demands.
- The high-band spectrum has the fastest speed of all three bands, but it also has the smallest coverage and signal penetration strength.
- Internet speeds in the 5G high-band spectrum have been tested to reach 20 Gbps (gigabits per second), although the greatest internet data speed in 4G has been reported at 1 Gbps in most circumstances.
Timeline of launch
- 1G: First introduced in the 1980s. Only voice calls were supported using analogue radio waves.
- 2G was introduced in the 1990s. With a Bandwidth (BW) of 64 Kbps, it uses digital radio signals to handle both voice and data transfer.
- 3G: Introduced in the early 2000s. It can transfer telephone signals, including digitised speech, video calls, and conferencing, at speeds ranging from 1 to 2 Mbps.
- 4G: It supports 3D virtual reality and has a max speed of 100 Mbps-1 Gbps.
- 5G: at a speed of more than 1Gbps, it has the potential to connect the entire world without boundaries.
Features:
- Capability: In comparison to earlier versions, 5G will deliver substantially faster mobile broadband service and will support previous services such as mission essential communication and the enormous Internet of Things (IoT).
- Upgraded LTE: The long-term evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks have been upgraded to 5G.
- It will be substantially faster than its predecessors, with a peak delivery rate of up to 20 Gbps and an average of 100Mbps. The increased speed is partly due to the use of higher-frequency radio waves than in prior networks.
- Traffic capacity and network efficiency will be increased by up to 100 times.
- Spectrum usage: Every bit of spectrum, from low bands below 1 GHz to high bands, will be better utilised.
- It is expected to offer a lower latency and better instantaneous, real-time data access. Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is used in 5G, much as it is in 4G LTE, but the new 5G NR (New Radio) air interface will improve OFDM and allow more flexibility in data delivery.
- Millimeter wave spectrum: The 5G networks will employ the millimetre wave spectrum (30-300 GHz), which has the advantage of being able to transport massive volumes of data at extremely high speeds because the frequency is so high.
Applications of 5G technology
- High-speed mobile network: With its supercharged wireless network, 5G will change the mobile experience. Voice and high-speed data can be delivered efficiently in 5G compared to traditional mobile transmission technologies.
- Entertainment and multimedia: 5G can deliver uninterrupted video streaming at 120 frames per second, high quality, and better dynamic range. After the introduction of the latest technologies enabled by 5G wireless, the audiovisual experience will be rewritten. Over 5G, augmented reality and virtual reality services will be more enjoyable.
- IoT applications collect massive amounts of data from millions of devices and sensors, necessitating an efficient network for data collecting, processing, transmission, control, and real-time analytics, for which the 5G network is a superior fit.
- Smart cities: A reliable 5G wireless network can be used to run smart city applications such as traffic management, instant weather updates, local area broadcasting, energy management, smart power grid, smart street lighting, water resource management, crowd management, and emergency response, among others.
- Agriculture and smart farming will both benefit from 5G technology in the future. Farmers can easily track and manage their cattle with sophisticated RFID sensors and GPS technologies. Irrigation control, access control, and energy management are all possible applications for smart sensors.
- Applications that are mission critical: Remote control of essential infrastructure and vehicles, similar to telemedicine services. With a highly dependable, low latency connectivity, it has the ability to change industries.
- Improved Governance: Red tape would be reduced if speed and connectivity were improved. It will improve the speed with which projects are completed and policies are implemented. It will improve system accountability and prevent corruption by implementing a better monitoring system.
- New device manufacturers and application developers will have more opportunities thanks to 5G wireless technology. New VoIP and smart gadgets will be launched to the market, resulting in more job prospects. This will contribute to more inclusive growth and a demographic dividend.
- Enhanced Security: Because of its increased bandwidth and unlicensed spectrum, 5G wireless technology is one of the greatest solutions for security surveillance. It will improve coordination between various agencies. Closed circuit cameras, which can be controlled and accessed from a distance, will give high-quality real-time footage for security needs.
- Logistics and shipping: Smart 5G technology can be used for products tracking, fleet management, centralised database management, personnel scheduling, and real-time delivery tracking and reporting in the logistics and shipping business.
- For effective automation of equipment, maintenance, safety, tracking, smart packing, shipping, logistics, and energy management, future industries will rely on smart wireless technologies like 5G and LTE advanced.
- Agricultural applications: In the future, 5G technology could be employed in agriculture and smart farming. Farmers can easily track and manage their cattle with sophisticated RFID sensors and GPS technologies. Irrigation control, access control, and energy management are all possible applications for smart sensors.
- Medical practitioners will be able to undertake innovative medical treatments with the help of a dependable wireless network connected to the other side of the world thanks to 5G technology. Doctors can communicate with patients at any time and from any location, providing guidance as needed. Scientists are developing smart medical equipment that can do surgery remotely. Wearable medical gadgets will continuously monitor the patient’s condition and activate an alert in the event of an emergency.
India’s plan:
- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently declared that 5G services will be available in India’s major metros next year.
- India is developing technologies that will allow it to launch its own 5G network.
- This will allow it to run its IoT systems on indigenous technology, which will benefit both civilian and military applications.
- The PM is striving for Aatamnirbharta (self-reliance), with Digital India’s success as a top goal.
- To defend India’s corporate and security interests, India has banned Chinese apps and barred its hardware supply chains.
- Rather than being embroiled in policy processes and bureaucratic rifts, scientists and industry should collaborate to get 5G technology to market faster.
- India could become a viable alternative to China if 5G technology is implemented.
- All of India’s commercial telecom companies have urged the DoT to give out a clear road map for spectrum distribution and 5G frequency bands so that they can plan their service rollouts properly.
Challenges for India:
- Low Fiberization Footprint: India needs to enhance its fibre connectivity, which currently connects only 30% of the country’s telecom towers.This number has to double for a successful 5G launch and uptake in India.
- ‘Made in India’ is a phrase that means “made in India.” Hardware Challenge: The restriction on certain foreign telecom OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), which are responsible for the majority of 5G technology development, is a significant roadblock in and of itself.
- High Spectrum Pricing: The cost of 5G spectrum in India is several times that of the worldwide average.
- India’s cash-strapped carriers will suffer as a result.
- Choosing the Best 5G Technology Standard: In order to speed the adoption of 5G technology, the debate between the domestic 5Gi standard and the global 3GPP standard must be resolved.
- While 5Gi has clear advantages, it also increases the cost of launching 5G India and poses interoperability challenges for telecoms.
The government has formed the High-Level 5G India 2020 Forum, which includes three secretaries from important ministries/departments, including Telecom, Meity, and DST, as well as recognised experts. The forum’s main objectives are:
- early deployment of 5G in India.
- A globally competitive product development and manufacturing ecosystem targeting 50% of India market and 10% of global market over next 5 to 7 years.
The 5G Club ‘D10’:
- The United Kingdom has proposed forming a ‘D10’ club of democratic partners, which would include the G7 countries, Australia, and Asia’s technology leaders, South Korea and India.
- It would include the G7 nations — the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, Germany, France, Japan, and Canada – as well as Australia, South Korea, and India.
- Its goal is to direct investments into existing telecommunications businesses in the ten member countries.
- To minimise relying on China, the group wants to build alternative suppliers of 5G equipment and other technology.
Way forward:
- India should seize the opportunity and try to introduce 5G technology as soon as possible. We should concentrate on improving our cyber infrastructure.
- Funds should be granted, and local technology and telecom enterprises should be encouraged to expand their internal capacity, allowing 5G to flourish in the country.
- 5G start-ups that can help with design and production should be encouraged. Wireless network coverage, capacity, and density will all increase as a result of this.
- It will fuel a surge in Internet of Things technology and usher in a new era of technical capability.
- Low-latency communication systems will be enabled by 5G technology, which can be employed in agriculture, manufacturing, and retail.
- In India, however, 5G is still in its infancy, with no commercial development to date. According to experts, the adoption of 5G technology and AI will usher in entirely new use cases.