PM Modi unveils India’s first 5G test bed, estimated to be worth Rs 220 crore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India’s first 5G testbed, allowing startups and industry players to test and certify their technologies domestically and lessen reliance on foreign facilities. The testbed was built at a cost of approximately Rs 220 crore.In the absence of a 5G testbed, startups and other industry players were required to go abroad to test and validate their products for installation in a 5G network.India’s own 5G standard had been made in the form of 5Gi which would play a big role in bringing 5G technology to the villages of the country.5Gi is basically a Made in India 5G standard created through a collaboration between IIT Hyderabad and Madras (Chennai).

5G Technology?

• 5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks.
• It enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices.
• Internet speeds in the high-band spectrum of 5G has been tested to be as high as 20 Gbps (gigabits per second), while, in most cases, the maximum internet data speed in 4G has been recorded at 1 Gbps.
• In India, Satcom Industry Association-India (SIA) has voiced concerns over the Government’s plan to include the Millimetre Wave (mm Wave) bands in the 5G spectrum auction.

Significance

• 5G technology would also bring positive changes in the governance of the country, ease of living and ease of doing business.
• This would boost growth in every sector like agriculture, health, education, infrastructure and logistics.
• This will also increase convenience and create many employment opportunities.