5G service to commence in 20-25 Indian cities by end of the year

Telecom minister  Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said 5G operation will commence in 20-25 cities and towns by the year-end.The 5G deployment will start from August-September, Vaishnaw said. He also indicated that prices are likely to remain cheaper than the global average since the cost of mobile data in India is already 'the lowest in the world'. Speaking at a media venet in New Dehi, he pointed out that data rates in India are about $2 against global average of $25. The minister said India is developing 4G and 5G stacks, and is set to bolster its position as a trusted source for the world, in digital networks.

Vaishnaw said that nations are keen to give preference to 4G and 5G products and technologies being developed by India. "India's name is on the top of the list of trusted network providers. When India develops a technology, the world is interested in it," he said. To address the issue of unsolicited calls, an "important" regulation is in the works, which will enable KYC-identity name of a caller to be displayed, when someone calls, the minister informed. "Once industry stakeholder consultation is completed, this will be implemented all over the country," the minister said. Vaishnaw said that India's average data consumption at 18 GB per month, exceeds the global average of 11 GB per month."India's data consumption is more than what is seen in highly-developed nations. More investments are needed in infrastructure. Massive investments in infrastructure are important in the backdrop of data rates, calls drops, call quality," he said.

The telecom sector reforms announced in September last year have brought stability to the industry, the minister noted. The government will auction about Rs 4.3 lakh crore worth of airwaves capable of offering fifth-generation or 5G telecom services, including ultra-high-speed internet, and has also given its nod for setting up of captive 5G networks by the tech firms.