5G launch historic, turning point in telecom sec: PM

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5G launch historic, turning point in telecom sec: PM

Sunday, 02 October 2022 | Pioneer News Service | New Delhi

5G launch historic, turning point in telecom sec: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the 5G telephony services in the country at the Indian Mobile Congress here and said this technology should be used to bring about a revolution in the country and should not be limited to just voice calls or watching videos.

The PM highlighted the use of drone technology as a case in point, saying after the newly launched drone policy many farmers have learnt how to fly drones and started making use of them to spray insecticides and pesticides in the fields.

“This is not just India’s decade. It is the century of India. India is among those nations where data is so affordable. Earlier, 1 GB data used to cost `300, now it only costs `10. Today an Indian, on an average, spends 14 GB data in a month. In 2014 this cost `4,200 per month, now it is costing somewhere between `125 and `150.

“This means that poor and middle-income people are saving approximately `4,000 every month, it is not a small feat,” said the PM in the presence of the heads of India’s three telecom operators Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Jio, Sunil Mittal of Airtel and Kumar Mangalam Birla of Vodafone-Idea.

Reliance, Airtel and Vodafone Idea demonstrated one use case each in front of the PM and Telecom Minister Ashwini  Vaishnaw to show the potential of the 5G technology in India but all the three tycoons of the Indian telecom sector later did not answer queries related to the tariff packages to be charged for the 5G services. The cumulative economic impact of 5G on India is estimated to reach $450 billion by 2035.

Modi said, “The summit today might be global but its repercussions and directions are local. Today is a special day for the fast-developing India of the 21st century.

“Today, 130 crore Indians are getting a wonderful gift in the form of 5G from the country and from the telecom industry of the country.  5G is a knock on the doors of a new era in the country.

“The 5G is the beginning of an infinite sky of opportunities. I congratulate every Indian for this.”

He said, “New India will not remain a mere consumer of technology, but India will play an active role in the development and implementation of that technology. India will play a big role in designing the future wireless technology, and manufacturing related to it.”

He pointed out that India was dependent on other countries for 2G, 3G and 4G technologies, but with 5G, India has created a new history.

“With 5G, India is setting a global standard in telecom technology for the first time”, he remarked.

“Members of elite class thought that poor people will not understand digital. There was a time when a section of the elite class...you can watch speeches from Parliament as well, our politicians made fun of and thought that poor people do not have the capacity to understand digital services.

“They were under the impression that poor people will not even undertand the meaning of the word ‘digital’, but I have always had confidence in the common man..Today whether its small businessmen or local artisans, Digital India has provided everyone with a platform,” said the PM, adding that “our Government is working on the goal of internet for all.” The 5G technology will offer a wide range of benefits to the common people by way of seamless coverage, high data rate, low latency, and highly reliable communications. Also, it will increase energy efficiency, spectrum efficiency and network efficiency besides helping connect billions of Internet of Things devices, allowing higher quality video services with mobility at high speed, and delivery of critical services such as telesurgery and autonomous cars among others.

The 5G will also help in real-time monitoring of disasters, precision agriculture, and minimising the role of humans in dangerous industrial operations such as in deep mines, offshore activities etc. Unlike existing mobile communication networks, 5G networks will allow tailoring of requirements for each of these different use cases within the same network.

 Speaking at the function Mukesh Ambani said Reliance Jio’s 5G services will be available pan India by December 2023. “India may have started late, but will finish first...will have the best quality and most affordable 5G services.” Sunil Mittal said Bharti Airtel will begin the 5G roll out from today itself and offer pan India 5G services by March 2024. Mittal also praised Ambani by saying that “Mukesh gave speed to 4G and we also had to run.”  Birla told the PM Prime Minister about the need for increase in production of telecom equipments in India to attain ‘Atmanirbharta’.

 The PM assured one and all that India of the future will guide the world in the upcoming technology sector, in turn making India a global leader. Union Minister of Communications, Ashvini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State for  Communications, Devusinh Chauhan, Chairman of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani,  Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, Sunil Mittal, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, Kumar Mangalam Birla and Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, K Rajaraman were those present on the occasion.

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