India expects 70% of businesses invest heavily in 5G 

According to a report, 70% of surveyed Indian businesses intend to invest disproportionately more in fifth-generation (5G) technology than in other cutting-edge fields like quantum computing, edge computing, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI).

5G, according to 57% of questioned businesses, will increase network speed, 52% believe it will decrease latency, and 50% anticipate benefits from the capability to establish private and secure networks at certain locations.

5G has the capacity to open up countless opportunities and spur innovation. Businesses may begin using 5G to revolutionise how they do business, disrupt rivals, and even unleash innovation, according to the report.

Additionally, businesses are keen to investigate how 5G interacts with other technologies like AI. According to the report, the respondents are also interested in learning more about how 5G will affect future business models and how it will differ from 4G and Wi-Fi.

However, 43% of respondents said that not understanding how 5G interacts with existing technologies poses a serious problem for businesses. Enterprises are also concerned about a lack of participation in 5G trials and test beds, a lack of understanding of the 5G provider ecosystem, the limited significance of 5G to overall business or technology strategy, and other issues.

Following the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) recommendations, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently permitted businesses to lend airwaves from a telecom service provider or straightly purchase from the government to establish up a non-public network for its captive or restricted use.

The telecom department (DoT) has lately requested applications from businesses that have a net worth of more than Rs 100 crore and are willing to build up captive networks in response to the sector regulator’s recommendation on demand studies for the direct spectrum assignment.

According to EY, the popularity of private networks has greatly expanded across the globe, largely due to factors including digitization, data security concerns, and corporate mobility needs.

According to the report, businesses are using private networks in conjunction with linked technology, big data, and analytics to transform operations, boost automation and efficiency, and offer new services to their users.

Singhal stated that it is essential for all stakeholders to take rapid action through a coordinated partnership, supported by an appropriate environment and the appropriate regulatory support, in order for India to take advantage of the 5G opportunity. He emphasised that “this is just the beginning” of bringing India’s Honourable Prime Minister’s ambition of 5G technology’s US$450 billion economic contribution over the next 15 years to fruition.

By the end of June 2022, 496 operators in 150 countries will have made investments in 5G networks through tests, trials, pilots, planned rollout, and actual deployments, according to the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GMSA). Of those, commercial 5G services for mobile or FWA have been introduced by 218 operators in 87 different countries.