India proudly announces the establishment of the world’s second largest 5G network, propelled by the fastest 5G rollout with an impressive 300,000 sites set up within a span of 10 months. Telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed this remarkable achievement in a Koo post on Tuesday, highlighting the nation’s rapid progress in the 5G ecosystem.
Record-Breaking 5G Rollout
Telecom service providers Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio played a pivotal role in setting up over 3 lakh 5G sites across 714 districts in India. As of July, the number of sites had reached 2.8 lakh, showcasing the nation’s unparalleled dedication to expanding its 5G network.
Government Initiatives for Accelerated Rollout
To expedite the 5G rollout nationwide, the Indian government has implemented several initiatives. Minister of State Devusinh Chauhan informed Rajya Sabha last month about the simplified procedure for SACFA clearance for low-power Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and small cells like Micro, Pico, and Femto cells on existing street infrastructure. Additionally, the Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2022, have been specified to streamline the application process and grant time-bound permissions for using street furniture for small cell and telegraph line installations.
GatiShakti Sanchar Portal for Streamlined Permissions
The government has taken a significant step forward by launching the GatiShakti Sanchar portal, facilitating and expediting Right of Way permissions. The portal serves as a single interface for all stakeholders, including Central and State/UT Governments, Local bodies, and Service Providers, ensuring a seamless and efficient process for 5G network infrastructure deployment.
Inter-Ministerial Committee for 5G Use Cases
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has formed an Inter-Ministerial Committee to explore and adopt sector-specific 5G use cases. Various ministries, including Health, Sports, Agriculture, and Heavy Industries, have received communications from DoT, urging them to leverage the potential of 5G technology effectively. These use cases encompass a wide range of socioeconomic sectors, such as education, agriculture, health, power, urban management, mining, logistics, resource management, tourism, sports, security, and e-governance.
