5G is the fifth generation mobile network. It’s a unified platform which is much more capable than previous mobile services with more capacity, lower latency, faster data delivery rate and better utilisation of spectrum. The standards for the usage of 5G are defined and driven by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

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Characteristics of 5G technology:

The potential advantages it offers:

• Industry 4.0:
• The manufacturing industry is going through a digital revolution.
• Within the context of Industry 4.0, manufacturers are becoming more efficient through the application of automation and data exchange to their existing factory processes to enable better integrated workflows and smarter manufacturing.
• Industrial IoT technologies are streamlining and simplifying many manufacturing processes in revolutionary ways.
• Mixed reality (MR) applications:
  • The MR Apps comprise augmented reality (AR) plus virtual reality (VR) apps.
  • Beyond the consumer market (think Pokémon Go), interesting applications are also likely to be found in industrial and medical contexts.
  • Remote medical procedures, engineering, public safety and field-service applications are all strong use case opportunities for the application of low latency 5G services.
• Sports and entertainment:
  • A combination of VR and AR with ultra high-fidelity enabled by 5G could transform the way fans interact in these events.
  • Motorsports is ideal for VR in particular: equipped with their mobile device or headset, fans could be served information like lap or technical information about cars as they race on the track in a sport like Formula 1
• Fixed wireless access:
  • Fixed wireless access could also be used to bring high bandwidth digital services to under-served rural areas.
  • Mobile operators will then be able to compete with wireline, satellite and cable companies, offering new revenue streams and faster RoI.
• Autonomous vehicles:
• The idea that much of the car, if not all of it, is controlled not by the driver but by technology.
• 5G is critical to realize this as it will offer the connectivity and speed needed to deliver vast amounts of data to one another as well as other objects simultaneously.
• 5G can provide a completely seamless mobile experience is a must so that cars can stay constantly connected.

Challenges present to adapt to 5G are:

• Frequency allocation: Indian operators have far less spectrum in comparison to international operators. The high investment cost which makes telecom companies unsure about Return on Investment.
• Network investment: In India, the telecom sector is facing capital augmentation issues which need to be resolved.
• Non-availability of funds for investment: Many of the Indian operators are also weighed down by debt.
• Regulatory restrictions: Faster rounds of new technology introduction when prior technology investments have not been recouped add further complexity.
• Technical Challenges: Designing IT architecture that can be deployed globally, while still allowing for localized technology to cater for different regions is a challenge.

Way forward for India:

• Need to align Digital India with 5G technology.
• Incentivize design and manufacture of 5G technologies, products and solutions in India.
• Allocate funds and incentivise local technology and telecom firms to develop their internal capacities which would in turn help 5G technology succeed in the country
• Promote 5G start-ups that enable this design and manufacturing capabilities.
• Promote generation of IPR backing the above designs.
• Manufacture of 5G chipsets, this may require massive investments.
• Appropriate test-beds and technology platforms to enable and help Indian technical ecosystem to have an edge in 5G.
• Accelerated deployment of next generation ubiquitous ultra-high broadband infrastructure with 100% coverage of 10 Gbps across urban India and 1 Gbps across Rural India.
• Coverage, reliability, and scalability must be optimized and seamless mobile networks will require a unified management policy to ensure consistent standards

Conclusion:

The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2023 there will be a staggering 9.1 billion mobile subscriptions. 5G will act as the catalyst for Digital India—a watershed moment in digital transformation. India is at the cusp of a next generation of wireless technology 5G. It provides an opportunity for industry to reach out to global markets, and consumers to gain with the economies of scale. It can help in better service delivery, faster access to services and deeper penetration of digital services.