In so many words, huge multinational bodies from the UK and the US have asked the Indian government to go with the 5G standards that have been recommended by the 3GPP. India is currently in confusion about which 5G standard it should go with - 5Gi developed by TSDSI or the 3GPP developed 5G standard. The top trade bodies from around the world have urged the Indian government to go ahead with 5G standards developed by 3GPP so that foreign vendors and multinational companies can come to India and set up their manufacturing facilities.
5G By 3GPP Should Be the Path for India
The 5Gi standard developed by the TSDSI isn’t better than the 5G standard developed by 3GPP. Further, it would isolate Indians and their smartphone technologies which will increase the cost of the devices and also restrict Indian users from using 5G network services when they are in international roaming. According to an ET Telecom report, the international trade bodies from around the world have said that if India goes ahead with the 5G standard developed by 3GPP, foreign companies will be able to set up their manufacturing facilities in India with confidence. They will be able to manufacture and serve customers not only in India but around the world. However, if India decides to go ahead with the 5Gi standard, then that would isolate India, and companies won’t be much interested in setting up their shop in the country. The 5Gi technology would disrupt the entire telecom and smartphone ecosystem. Even the smartphone makers have urged the telecom department to not go ahead with the 5Gi technology as it would increase the manufacturing cost for them. It will be interesting to hear the response of the government to these statements. Currently, the Indian telcos are testing their 5G networks in different parts of the country and are expected to make the networks commercially live by next year as soon as the spectrum auctions are done.
