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India’s Need for Customised 5G Technology

5G Technology

India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) estimates India’s total wireless data usage to reach 13 exabytes/month by 2025 (5x of 1Q18 data usage). The existing technology may face capacity and technological constraints, and hence would be inadequate to meet such high data demand. Therefore, a judicious mix of fiberisation and 5G roll-out will be required.

Need for Customised 5G or 4G+: India can formulate its customised 5G or 4G+ technology rather than adopting global standards for 5G in toto. Ind-Ra’s analysis of various use-cases on speed and latency requirement indicates that India should focus on improving user experience or cater to evolving enterprise requirement; and avoid critical applications requiring ultra-low latency.

New Approach needed for 5G Spectrum Strategy: A judicious mix of 700 megahertz (MHz) and C band (3.4-3.6 gigahertz; GHz) would be ideal, as it would ensure wider coverage and provide good capacity. Ultra-high frequency E&V bands (70GHz+) can be used as network backhaul for wireless applications and/or as last mile connectivity for fibre rollout. This strategy also maps well with Ind-Ra’s assessment of global 5G spectrum strategy.

5G Deployment to Take Place in Phased Manner: Ind-Ra believes hotspot devices will take precedence over 5G handsets (4G LTE compatible), as operators would access demand for 5G applications before committing capex for commercial manufacturing of handsets. Also, industry players in India need to adopt same technology to optimally utilise and share the available infrastructure, making 5G a financially viable option.

However, few questions left unanswered include 5G challenge on net neutrality as some use cases are prioritised, feasibility of 5G for end-users, and payment ambiguity for 5G (telcos or end-users).

Network Infrastructure: Standardisation is the Key Unprecedented Cooperation Required Amongst Operators to Reduce Capex Technology or specification for 5G network infrastructure is not yet finalised, and various vendors are taking test-runs for different technologies. Ind-Ra believes from India’s perspective, industry participants need to adopt same technology to optimally utilise and share the available infrastructure. This would optimise the capex and give clarity on financial viability of 5G roll-out, which is of utmost important for debt-ridden Indian telecom sector.

Cell sites: Urban Coverage would be Challenging As highlighted earlier, India would require both wider coverage to reach rural areas and strong capacity to cater to high data usage areas. Wider coverage can be achieved using government’s NOFN fibre roll-out and/or 700 MHz band. However, key challenge would be to ensure optimal number of cell-sites in urban areas. As per industry estimates, 5G roll-out would require 10 small cell-sites per base station as higher frequency bandwidth have smaller cell radius. The government can play a crucial role in ensuring right-of-way by allowing installation of smaller cell-sites on light-posts, fly-overs and other government. Sharing of cell-sites amongst operators would also remain crucial to ensure lower capex.

Handsets: Hotspots devices to take precedence over pure 5G handsets Specifications for modems and chips compatible with 5G specifications are yet to be finalised.As per media reports, major handset OEMs are developing hotspots/handsets using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X50 modem. Ind-Ra believes hotspot devices shall take precedence over 5G handsets (4G LTE compatible), as operators would access demand for 5G applications before committing capex for commercial manufacturing of handsets.

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