DoT's 5G testing reaches final stages; likely to be completed by 31 December

The Indigenous 5G Test bed project funded by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has reached its final stages. The eight implementing agencies viz IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IISC Bangalore, SAMEER and CEWiT have been working over a period of 36 months.

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The central government on Monday said that 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative provides a big impetus to address current and future technology needs in telecom sector in India. The following initiatives are being driven in the next generation communication technologies including 5G, upcoming 6G, Quantum Communications etc.  

Costing Rs 224 Cr, the project is likely to be completed by 31 December 2021, paving the way for end-to-end testing of 5G User Equipment (UEs) and network equipment by 5G stakeholders developing 5G Products/Services/Use cases, including indigenous Start-ups, SMEs, Academia and Industry in the country, the Central government said in a statement.

The indigenous 5G test bed, a visionary technology development project initiated in telecom space, will enable development, testing and proliferation of 5G technology system components, cross-sectoral use cases, besides setting up foundation for the development of “6G Technology landscape” in the country.

According to the official statement, total telephone connections rose to 118.9 crore in September 2021 from 93 crore in March 2014, with a growth of 28 per cent in the said period. The number of mobile connections reached to 1165.97 million in September 2021. The tele-density which was 75.23% in March 2014 has reached 86.89% in September 2021.

Meanwhile, internet connections jumped from 25.15 crore in March 2014 to 83.37 crore in June 2021, registering a growth of 231 per cent. Broadband connections rose from 6.1 crore in March 2014 to 79 crores in June 2021, growing by about 1200%. Average revenue realization per subscriber per GB wireless data reduced to Rs. 9.8 in June 2021 from Rs. 268.97 in December 2014, a reduction of more than 96%.