India’s state-owned telecom company, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), is gearing up for live trials of 5G technology in collaboration with various homegrown startups and telecom companies. This initiative aims to leverage BSNL’s existing infrastructure and spectrum holdings to deliver advanced 5G services across key locations in India.
Key Details of the 5G Trials
- Spectrum Utilization: The trials will primarily utilize BSNL’s spectrum in the 700MHz band, ensuring robust and wide-reaching 5G connectivity.
- Locations: Proposed trial locations include:
- Delhi: Connaught Place, Sanchar Bhawan, JNU Campus, IIT Delhi, and India Habitat Centre.
- Bengaluru: Indoor government offices and various campuses.
- Chennai: Selected areas.
- Gurugram: Specific locations.
- Hyderabad: IIT Hyderabad campus.
Collaboration and Support
- VoICE: The Voice of Indian Communication Technology Enterprises (VoICE), an industry group of indigenous telecom companies, is spearheading this initiative. Members include Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tejas Networks, VNL, United Telecoms, Coral Telecom, and HFCL.
- BSNL’s Contribution: BSNL will provide essential infrastructure support, including spectrum, towers, battery, and power supply.
- Proposed Companies: The companies involved in the trials include Lekha Wireless, Galore Networks, Velmenni, W4S Labs, Sooktha Consulting, Coral Telecom, Amantya Technologies, VVDN, Bharat RAN Consortium, Signaltron, and Resonun, among others.
Focus of the Trials
- Captive Non-Public Networks (CNPN): A significant focus of the trials will be on CNPN, providing private enterprise solutions.
- Technological Applications:
- Voice, Video, and Data: Enhanced 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) for seamless communication.
- Network Slicing: Proof of concept for efficient network management.
- PABX Integration: Ensuring smooth communication over private automatic branch exchanges and mobile networks.
Key Technologies and Providers
- Core Network: Niral Networks, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), and Galore Networks.
- 5G Radio: Lekha Wireless and Sooktha Consulting.
- IMS: Coral Telecom, Netar.AI, and Amantya Technologies.
- Backhaul Providers: Velmenni, Astrome, and NavTech Wireless.
- Antenna Providers: Kenstel and Telimart.
- Network Management: MatreComm and Echelon for network service management (NMS) and analytics.
- SIM Provider: Sensorise.
- FWA Equipment: United Telecoms Limited (UTL).
Government Support and Future Plans
- Revival Packages: The Indian government has approved multiple revival packages for BSNL, including:
- First Package (2019): ₹69,000 crore.
- Second Package (2022): ₹1.64 lakh crore.
- Third Package (2023): ₹89,047 crore, including spectrum allocation for 4G and 5G.
- Spectrum Bands: Allocations include 700MHz, 2200MHz, 3300MHz, and 26GHz bands, enabling nationwide 4G and 5G services, especially in rural areas and uncovered villages.
Public and Enterprise Benefits
- Enhanced Connectivity: The trials will aim to provide uninterrupted productivity and entertainment through advanced 5G connectivity.
- Cost-Effective Solutions: The potential for low-cost, high-speed data and calling services poses a significant challenge to private telecom operators.
- Increased User Base: BSNL has already seen a surge in subscribers, with over two lakh new SIMs activated in Andhra Pradesh alone in the past 30 days.
Final Notes
With the central government’s significant investment and the collaborative efforts of domestic telecom companies, BSNL’s 5G trials represent a major step forward in India’s telecommunications landscape. These trials not only promise to enhance connectivity and productivity but also aim to provide innovative and cost-effective solutions for both public and private sectors.
By leveraging BSNL’s robust infrastructure and the technological prowess of homegrown startups, India is set to witness a transformative leap in its 5G capabilities, ensuring that the benefits of this advanced technology reach every corner of the country.
