5G is the new revolution in the technology. 5G promises peak data speeds of up to 10 Gbps – up to 100 times faster than the 100 Mbps of 4G. Latency, a measure of the time it takes data to travel from the phone to the distant server, could be less than a millisecond in 5G networks, or 60-120 times better than 4G. Meanwhile the Indian markets have already launched 5G enabled phones, but the main problem which lies ahead is providing the network, it’s still going to be a time consuming factor. In order to develop and provide smooth services, the network operators must test the technology, acquire the necessary radio spectrum from India’s government in an auction, then invest in and build out the network infrastructure before they’re ready to offer service.
While Indian government is still mulling over 5G trials, countries like China, South Korea, and US have raced ahead in 5G deployments. China has particularly taken the lead in 5G. It has scaled up the number of 5G base stations from 0.1 million in 2019 to over 0.7 million in November this year. The target is to reach 1.7 million by end-2021. At the recent India Mobile Congress the Chairman of the Reliance Industries’ Mukesh Ambani announced that his telecom venture Jio’s upcoming plan is the launch of 5G services in the country. Furthermore, he added, “Jio will pioneer the 5G revolution in India in the second half of 2021. It will be powered by indigenous-developed network, hardware and technology components. Jio’s 5G service will be a testimony to your inspiring vision of AtmaNirbhar Bharat. I can say with utmost confidence that 5G will enable India to not only participate in the fourth industrial revolution but also to lead it,”
Although social media has been claiming that the recent bird flu is due to the strong radio active 5G radiations. Birds in India are dying because Reliance Jio is conducting 5G tests says a claim on the social media. The post reportedly claims that the birds are dying due to the 5G trials in India and averred as Bird Flu. This claim is completely baseless and false as the Centre has so far not approved 5G trials in India. Moreover Reliance too has denied conducted 5G tests. Union Minister for Information and Technology said that the 5G trials would commence soon and confirmed that Jio would be pioneering 5G tests in the second half of 2021. In 2018, a similar rumour surfaced claiming that the test for 5G cellular phones is the reason for several birds dying This was fact checked by an international website, Snopes and the theory was debunked.
