5G: Connected to the future

With newer generations of data transfer technology, the future is already here and when Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated 5G commercial services in India in September 2022, the country got connected to its future in a big way. 5G spells a great future for India and will change the nation in general and the life of every citizen in particular.

5G technology will provide many services in the lives of ordinary people. Seamless coverage, high data rates, low latency and reliable communication are guaranteed. It will also bring high-quality video services, high-speed mobility, telesurgery and autonomous cars. The effectiveness and efficiency of our present networks will also increase. 5G technology will also bring down human effort in hazardous work areas. For instance, 5G technology can greatly reduce the workload of those involved in real-time monitoring of disasters, precision agriculture, deep mines and offshore operations. By 2035, the 5G impact is expected to contribute an additional $1 trillion to the Indian economy. At the same time, 5G will also help to add an additional $150 billion to India's GDP during the period 2025-40.

As of now, 5G service providers in the country are Jio, Airtel, Idea and Vodafone. The 5G technology was supposed to be implemented in the Indian telephone sector months ago, but Covid and India-China tensions had become obstacles. The Russian invasion of Ukraine also entailed its share of disruptions in its implementation.

Officials indicate that 5G service will be available initially in 13 cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, but gradually the service will be extended to other states as well.

Today more than 60 countries in the world are using 5G services. Saving time is the reason why countries are switching to 5G networks that can transfer data in the blink of an eye. Literally, it can bend time to suit our purpose. While experts in the field say that 5G can easily handle up to a thousand devices simultaneously, one can easily imagine how this will effect a metamorphosis in everything that comes under its purview. A complete transformation of society can thus be expected. Five G will be the driving force for growth and change in all sectors such as commerce, defence, infrastructure and industry.

Those working in this field point out that if 5G is to be fully implemented in India, fundamental changes will have to be made in infrastructure development. It is pointed out that the need to install adjacent towers for 5G poses a radiation threat. Hence, the optical fibre network that stretches across the country needs to be expanded, and equipment including transmitters, radio waves and smartphones need to be replaced with those which can handle 5G. There are also concerns about privacy. These limitations and concerns need to be scientifically addressed as soon as possible.

Developed countries such as the US, China, South Korea, the UK, and Germany are using this technology widely and accelerating their progress in all areas, despite its side effects. Moreover, they have already stepped up to 6G and 7G incorporating them into their development plans. In this scenario, if India hesitates to adopt 5G, it will be left far behind. Failure in this technology competition will only mean that our huge population is more of a liability than a resource. India, which even now ranks with the world's major nations in e-banking and mobile connectivity, will no doubt overtake the developed nations in digital exchange with the rollout of a complete 5G network. In short, with the activation of web services through 5G, India will “communicate” to the world that it is in no way smaller than any of them.

* (Writer is Chairman of World Hindu Parliament and former President of Fokana)