5G rollout in India: PM Modi calls it ‘step towards the new era’

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the start of 5G services, describing it as a “step towards the new era.”

Thirteen cities received the 5G Internet services in the initial rollout phase. Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jamnagar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune are the cities that are included.

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In front of India’s telecom leaders in New Delhi, Modi unveiled the eagerly anticipated services that are meant to offer seamless coverage, high data rates, minimal lag in internet connectivity, and extremely dependable communications.

“This event will be etched in history,” Modi said at the launch. He said it was a “step towards the new era in the country” and “the beginning of infinite opportunities.”

Bharti Airtel is rolling out its 5G services in eight cities on Saturday and has set March 2024 as the deadline for countrywide coverage for as many as 5,000 towns.

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The Reliance Jio telecom business intends to launch in four major cities in October and expects to cover the majority of towns and cities in 18 months.

“Very proud of what we’ve demonstrated. To COAI (Cellular Operators Assn of India) and DoT (Dept of Telecom), I can say we’re ready to take leadership&Indian Mobile Congress should now become Asian Mobile Congress and Global Mobile Congress,” Mukesh Ambani said. 

According to the government, India’s overall economic impact of 5G is anticipated to be $450 billion by 2035.

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India will trail China and the United States in the global rankings by 2026, according to research firm OMDIA, with 369 million 5G subscriptions, or more than half of all 5G subscriptions now available worldwide. With 147 million consumers, India would have replaced Japan as the third-largest market, according to the Business Standard newspaper.