5G in India | Is It Impractical in India?

We have been living with 2G then 3G and now 4G. It might take some time for experiencing 5G in India. However, it is a bit impractical in India if we try to implement it on the existing technology.

As a matter of fact, 5G will definitely come to India and operators will smartly sell you the 4G in the name of 5G.

Surprised? Well, it is still anyway happening in India. Did you even know that these operators are providing you 3G in the name of 4G? Here is the truth:

Shocked? So, you were happy with your 4 Mbps 4G speed or even less!

People who are eagerly waiting for 5G to arrive so that they can quickly buy 5G smartphones – it’s not going to be easy.

Rather than waiting, buy any good 4G smartphone for now. If you get 5G smartphone in your budget then take it as a bonus point.

5G in India – What is 5G & What Will Be The Challenges?

5G is the fifth generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks. For instance, we have been using 2G then 3G and now 4G (assume that). 5G is the successor of 4G. The main highlight with 5G is obviously, the speed.

According to the International Telecommunication Union’s IMT-2020 standard, 5G should have a download speed of 20 Gbps and upload speed of 10 Gbps. Hence, this is clearly insane.

Challenge 1: 5G Spectrum

If you don’t know what spectrum in wireless communications is, then here is a brief introduction to you.

Every wireless signal needs to be operated in a specific frequency. It cannot go below that or above that. It is necessary because it enables to distinguish between other signals. Just imagine how all the signals will travel if we don’t know their frequency.

The proposed spectrum for 5G is from 24 GHz to 100 GHz.

It is necessary to provide high frequency so that your Internet will get high speed.

So, here is the catch. According to the law of electromagnetics, higher frequency leads to the shorter range.

This is the reason why you get low WiFi speed as you move farther from the WiFi spot.

Higher Speed = Higher Range

In short, you will never get uniform 5G speeds everywhere. There will be selected places where the Internet speeds will be high but mobile devices cannot stick to one place.

If you really need fast Internet, it is always good to have a WiFi connection at your home or office. Wired Internet still gives the best and stable internet connection.

Looking for WiFi options?
Here is your guide: Local ISP vs National ISP

Challenge 2: Obstacles & High Sensitivity of 5G Network

5G lies in the high spectrum and it gets affected even by the slightest obstacle. High-frequency waves really don’t work unless they are directly in the line-of-sight.

That clearly means that a 5G mobile network tower should be available right in front of you. Even if it is present right in front of your house, the walls of your house will reduce the speed. As a result, it is of no use.

5G will get obstructed by literally everything like walls, trees, and even rainfall.

Also, this is the reason why microwave oven cannot cook outsider things beyond the glass. It comes under extremely high frequency.

Challenge 3: Infrastructure

As I mentioned in the above points, high frequency range do not work for long distances. Secondly, slightest obstacles disrupt the 5G connectivity.

So, what is the solution here?

The solution to both the problems mentioned above is to make a lot of nodes (network hubs) all across the country. By a lot of nodes, I really mean at every nook and corner of India to enable 5G in India.

According to the official stats, currently India has 5.93 lakh telecom towers. The total area of India is 3.3 million square kilometres. That roughly means we have one telecom tower serving 8.2 kilometres of area.
Again, it is a rough calculation. Urban areas have more densely populated towers.

Approach for 5G has to be different.

According to Verizon, the 5G Ultra Wideband network’s signal can reach up to 1,500 feet without obstructions. Is India ready to invest in so many towers? Maybe, in future!

Not being a pessimist but it is highly unlikely to happen in immediate upcoming years. India is really a vast country with an area of 3.3 million square kilometres where we don’t even have dust bins at every corner. Some politicians even promise to provide you free WiFi at every corner but that remains a distant dream.

So, it is unlikely to enjoy 5G all over the country. At the most, a few metropolitan cities will get that and that too at a few selected areas.

Other Problems With 5G

Even if we consider that you get a 5G connection right next to your window and you are able to enjoy it. Then your smartphone will start showing some tantrums like a high-maintenance girlfriend.

The phone will heat up a lot when you will use 5G to its fullest extent. Also, the battery will drain a lot faster as compared to 4G or 3G.

Related Post: Battery Saving Tips For Your Smartphone

When is 5G coming to India?

Here is the official statement of Mukesh Ambani in India Mobile Congress 2020, “I assure you that Jio will pioneer the 5G Revolution in India in the second half of 2021.”

Although telecom operators in India claim that 5G will come in India by the second half of 2020, I am sure they mean that a few spots will arrive for testing purpose.

Even if it commercially becomes available, our operators will serve 4G speeds in the name of 5G which is very obvious.

So, don’t expect to enjoy 5G so soon. Also, don’t worry about your phone getting incompatible with 5G. Buy a 4G phone for now if it is offering great deals. Don’t reject merely for not being a 5G device.

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