After a fast rollout of 5G, India has now acquired 100 patents for 6G technology. This could help the country become a forerunner in telecom technology.
But there are some key concerns around the future of telecom in India. One of them is that Jio may not be able to build its network from scratch with 100% indigenous technology.
What this means for the future of telecom in India
The telecom industry has seen a number of changes in the past few years. These include the rollout of 5G technology, which provides high-speed broadband to the public.
In addition to this, telecoms are also undergoing digital transformation as they adapt to new technologies and business models. This requires them to address challenges like data governance issues, skills shortages, siloed systems, and employee resistance to change.
Another major trend in the telecommunication industry is the increasing use of IoT applications and devices. This will allow companies to connect their physical assets online and manage their operations.
The industry is also expected to benefit from the emergence of new revenue streams and collaborations with other sectors. These can help create diversified ecosystems that are more profitable and competitive.
MediaTek
India is set to become one of the fastest countries in the world to rollout 5G technology, as telecom firms have begun to install base stations. This is due to the country’s huge telecom infrastructure and the government’s push for nationwide coverage by October, according to Union Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
According to Vaishnaw, India has acquired 100 patents for 6G technology and plans to start its own development by 2029. This is great news for the country as it will bolster its position in the global market and bring new possibilities to the table.
India’s top telcos have already rolled out 5G services in 13 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, while Reliance Jio is aiming for coverage of the whole country by December 2023. The companies are also working with network partners, such as Nokia, Samsung, and Ericsson, to deploy the networks.
R&D
After its fast rollout of 5G, India has now acquired 100 patents for 6G technology. These include technologies that would make it 100 times faster than 5G.
The technology, which will be rolled out sometime in the 2030s, is expected to deliver download speeds of up to 1 Tbps per user and improve end-to-end latency by over a factor of 100. It is also believed to have the potential for cutting-edge wireless sensing.
But, in order to use these technologies, companies need to have a strong R&D infrastructure. This is where the big players are investing heavily.
Huawei, for example, spends over $20 billion a year on research and development, which is 45% of its workforce. The company has accumulated more than 2,386 patents related to 5G, compared with Jio’s 29.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
India has a fast-growing telecommunication industry, largely thanks to the implementation of low-cost tariffs, availability of the internet, expansion of 3G and 4G coverage, change in subscriber consumption patterns and favourable regulatory environment. Despite this, the country has struggled to roll out 5G networks.
In an attempt to get things rolling, the Indian government began auctioning off a block of spectrum for 5G in early June. However, the process is not going as planned and the rollout could still be years off.
The telecom regulator, TRAI, has taken a number of steps to ease the industry’s struggles. For example, it has issued regulations and orders for licensing issues.