India Likely To Begin 5G Trials In Two-Three Months, Govt tells Parliamentary Panel On IT

In a positive development, India is likely to begin the much-awaited 5G technology trials in two-three months, according to the details shared by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) with the parliamentary committee on Information Technology (IT), reports Economic Times.

The development gains significance as it comes after the parliamentary committee, in its report, had remarked, "Notwithstanding submission of TSPs and the industry body, it is really disturbing to note that 5G trials have not yet been permitted."

The report further stressed, "This is in complete contradiction to what DoT had informed the committee during examination of demands for grants (2020-21) in February 2020, that the Government has allowed all applications for 5G trials in limited area and for limited time to test the potential 5G India specific use cases."

The committee pressed that 5G trials are an essential prerequisite for building the 5G ecosystem and DoT needs to take the issues of the experimental spectrum and early conduct of 5G trials more seriously.

It should be noted that the DoT has so far received 16 applications for 5G field trials using imported as well as indigenous technology.