5G

As per Ookla Speedtest Intelligence (Q3 2021), South Korea recorded the fastest median download speed over 5G at 492.48 Mbps, leading a top 10 list that includes Norway (426.75 Mbps), United Arab Emirates (409.96 Mbps), Saudi Arabia (366.46 Mbps), Qatar (359.64 Mbps), and Kuwait (340.62 Mbps), followed by Sweden, China, Taiwan and New Zealand.

Private 5G captive networks are about the deployment of high speed, enhanced data capacity, and ultra-low latency applications inside a closed manufacturing unit, hospital, airport and shipping port, among others. Such networks are single end-users (the enterprise itself) in the given location, unlike a vast number of users in public networks.

VIL is the telco that bid for the least amount of 5G spectrum and acquired 5G spectrum in 17/16 circles across the 3300MHz/26GHz bands out of the 22 circles. It won 850 MHz in 3300 MHz band vs 2,200/2,440Mhz by Bharti/Jio and 5,350 MHz in 26 GHz vs 17,600/ 22,000Mhz by Bharti/Jio. BofA Securities said given VIL's weaker balance sheet.

"With the completion of 5G auctions, and anticipated roll-out of 5G services in India shortly, there will be further momentum in 5G smartphone shipments," said Menka Kumari, analyst- Industry Intelligence Group, CMR. 5G smartphone shipments in Rs 7,000-Rs 24,999) grew more than 160 per cent YoY, whereas overall smartphone shipments in this segment grew 12 per cent.

Speaking to analysts after its Q2 earnings call, the Nokia CEO said we have to remember that there are countries and regions which haven't even really started in 5G yet. "Obviously, India is one of the most important ones here. Latin America, the same thing. It's only starting. So that's why we do believe that we are still early in the 5G cycle," he told the analysts late on Thursday.

The on-premise 5G Captive Private Network was built over the trial 5G spectrum allocated by the Department of Telecom (DoT). Airtel said it has implemented two industrial grade use cases for quality improvement and operational efficiency at Bosch's manufacturing facility, utilising the trial spectrum.

"If the independent entities set up private captive networks with direct 5G spectrum allotment by Department of Telecommunications (DoT), it will diminish the revenue so much that there will be no viable business case left for the telecom service providers (TSPs) and there will not remain any need for 5G networks rollout by TSPs," said Lt. Gen. Dr S.P. Kochhar, Director General, COAI.

According to the GSMA's 'Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2022' report, mobile broadband networks cover around 96 per cent of the population in the region which is a testament to operators' investment in 3G, 4G and, increasingly, 5G infrastructure.

The debate sparked further after Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month said 5G technology will contribute $450 billion to the Indian economy, dedicating an indigenous 5G Test Bed to the nation during an event by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The debate has now reached its nadir with the Union Cabinet approving the telecom department's proposal to conduct an auction through which spectrum will be assigned to the successful bidders for providing 5G services to public and enterprises next month-end.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Lundmark mentioned that he does not believe that smartphones will be the most "common interface", reports GizmoChina. "By then, definitely the smartphone as we know it today will not anymore be the most common interface," Lundmark was quoted as saying.