Collaboration Brings 5G and IoT Tech to India

India’s state-run telecom operator BSNL has teamed up with Softbank and NTT Communications to bring 5G and IoT tech to India. BSNL will evaluate smart city solutions and collaborate with Softbank on satellite constellation. Softbank has close to 900 satellites to provide high-speed internet worldwide.

BSNL also signed an agreement with Cisco this month. The two companies will collaborate to develop 5G use cases and demonstrate its use 5G in utilities and public services. Cisco plans to invest in its “country digital acceleration” program in India. The company will create a dedicated location for BNSL to show how healthcare, education, and agriculture can benefit from 5G. Cisco will also showcase artificial intelligence, surveillance, and IoT technologies.

5G and IoT Tech Driving Innovation

“The auction of spectrum for 5G services is likely to happen in the second half of 2019. The country’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said it expects local carriers to have at least one year to carry out 5G trials before the government awards 5G frequencies. The authorities said the DoT will give experimental licenses for telcos to develop 5G testbeds,” said India’s Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan.

See also: Indy the latest city to get Verizon’s 5G 

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India proposed guidelines for the upcoming sale of airwaves that include 5G spectrum in ranges that include:

• 3300-3600 MHz
• 700 MHz
• 800 MHz
• 900 MHz
• 1,800 MHz
• 2,100 MHz
• 2300 MHz
• 2,500 MHz

The authority recommended auctioning off 275MHz in the 3300-3600 MHz frequency range. They suggested allowing 25 MHz spectrum (3400-3425) for 5G. However negotiations must take place with the current owner, the Indian Space Research Organization.

A 5G panel in India asked local governments to create guidelines on regulatory matters for the auction by March of next year. The Department of Telecommunications is considering providing financial support to operations to help ease the costs related to deployment, including backhaul, site acquisition, and other related costs.