5G roll out to begin in 20-25 cities, towns by end of 2022: Telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jun 20, 2022 | Guriya Khatun

According to the data, India is ranked 125 in the mean worldwide mobile speed performance index and 79 in the mean global fixed broadband performance index.

The union minister
also stated at a media event on June 18 that 5G data pricing in India would be
"much lower than [the] worldwide average," according to news agency
PTI. The government has previously stated that 5G spectrum auctions will begin
in July, with the first phase of implementation scheduled for August-September.
According to a separate government announcement, 13 Indian towns would receive
5 Gs in the first phase.

According to
the PTI article, highlighted that India's internet data charges are around $2
(approximately Rs 155), whereas the global average rate is $25 (roughly Rs
1,900).

Airtel CTO
Randeep Sekhon made a similar assertion earlier this year, claiming that the
"main difference" between 5G and 4G rates in India would not be
significant. Sekhon remarked in an interview with India Today Tech, "Only
after the spectrum auction will we know the ultimate cost." In other
markets where carriers have already demonstrated 5G, we haven't seen them
charge a premium over 4G. "

The federal
minister also stated on the occasion that India's average data consumption is
18GB per month, which is more than the global average of 11GB per month. In the
Ookla Speedtest Global Index (mean) for May 2022, India, however, is still
lagging behind several other countries.

According to
the data, India is ranked 125 in the mean worldwide mobile speed performance
index and 79 in the mean global fixed broadband performance index.

During the
media summit, Union Minister Vaishnaw also addressed certain concerns about 5G.
The IT minister informed the news agency that there is no need to be concerned
about Electro-Magnetic Field (EMF) radiation from 5G towers because India has
"stricter" standards than other countries.

The government
has stated that spectrum in the 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz,
2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands will be auctioned. Bengaluru,
Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Jamnagar, Hyderabad, Pune,
Lucknow, Mumbai, and Kolkata are among the 13 cities expected to gain 5G
connectivity in the first phase.