Vodafone Idea cracks the 4,000 Mbps barrier in 5G trials

Vodafone Idea said it achieved speeds of over 4,000 Mbps during its test deployment of 5G on the trial spectrum handed over by Department of Telecom. In comparison, in the early days of 4G, the maximum speeds achieved were in the range of around 200 Mbps. The company released two speedtest results — presumably using […]

Facebook to help India’s Sterlite Tech build 5G solution

Facebook, the social networking giant, will help Sterlite Technologies Ltd — one of the oldest private sector cable manufacturers in India — to create specialized 5G radio units. Facebook will help Sterlite Technologies create two products — a 5G radio unit designed for dense deployments, and another, dual-tech 4G+5G radio unit. These are more complicated […]

HFCL to become 5G supplier, sets up dedicated unit

Telecom equipment and services provider HFCL Ltd said it plans to offer 5G equipment and turnkey services, marking a move up from its roots as a telecom contractor. The company, which has in recent years successfully diversified into manufacturing — particularly of fiber optic cables and terminal devices — said its new 5G network services […]

Anyone, including Huawei, can participate in 5G auction – India

Responding to question on whether Chinese companies like Huawei can purchase 5G spectrum in the upcoming auction, India’s communications ministry said any company of any country can participate in any spectrum auction in India. “..they [foreign companies] are allowed to participate in the auctions directly and apply for a Unified License subsequently through an Indian […]

BSNL 4G expansion to take time as equipment order not given yet

BSNL subscribers waiting for faster wireless connectivity may have to wait for a year or more, as the government today clarified that the state-owned telecom operator has not given orders for 4G equipment for its much-delayed network expansion. Nearly 11 years after 3G and 4G spectrum was first handed over to the company, BSNL is […]

Govt delays 5G auction, internet speeds to remain low

In a move that can potentially derail Reliance Jio’s plans to launch 5G services in the second half of this year, Government of India has come up with a plan to auction only 4G spectrum in March this year. The move to exclude 5G airwaves from the auction is likely to further delay the growth […]

5G could spell bonanza for TechM, Wipro, TCS & Infy

A move away from traditional equipment vendors such as Ericsson and Huawei by telecom operators could open up a multi-billion dollar market for the likes of Tech Mahindra, Wipro, HCL Technologies, TCS and Infosys. Traditionally, telecom operators like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have almost completely outsourced the construction and management of their networks to […]

Vodafone Idea tests revolutionary approach to network deployment

Vodafone Idea, the country’s third largest mobile operator, has started deploying a revolutionary new approach to creating its cellular network, but has also encountered several challenges in doing so. The company is experimenting with the so-called ‘open radio access network’ or Open RAN technology, which is a break from the traditional one-box technology promoted by […]

BSNL asks for 5G spectrum from the Govt

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, which is in the middle of a massive turnaround program, has officially asked the government for the allotment of 5G spectrum, according to Sanjay Dhotre, junior minister for communications, Government of India. “Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has requested DoT to assign spectrum for 5G services on Pan India basis (except […]

Govt to give 5G spectrum to BSNL without auction

Government of India today said it has decided to give 5G spectrum to state-owned telecom service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd without the company participating in the upcoming spectrum auction. In 2010, the government had set apart one block of 3G and 4G spectrum for BSNL, even as other telecom operators had to fight long […]

No dearth of 5G spectrum in India – Govt; auction next year

Government of India has denied suggestions that India does not have enough spectrum to implement 5G wireless technologies. Replying to a question in parliament, communications minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said India has set apart 275 MHz of spectrum for 5G services. He, however, admitted that Broadband India Forum — a policy think tank headed by […]

Airtel deploys Ciena software to optimize its core network ahead of 5G, FTTH

Bharti Airtel, one of India’s top three telecom operators, said it has chosen US-based Ciena to supply the core technology on which its countrywide optical backbone will be managed. The adoption of technology from Ciena — one of the original dotcom-era startups — will help Airtel adapt to the new age of 5G and fiber-to-the-home, […]

Vodafone Idea users to get faster 4G this year

Customers of Vodafone and Idea networks will notice an improvement in their 4G experience in coming weeks, especially in areas like Mumbai and Delhi, as the company starts deploying massive amounts of cash to improve the networks in such areas. The network improvement will be done via several methods — by deploying extra spectrum, technological […]

Reliance Jio to buy $1 bln worth of goods from Samsung, Ace Tech

Reliance Jio Infocomm, the telecom subsidiary of Reliance Industries, said it will take a loan of $1 bln from Korea Trade Insurance Corporation to purchase goods from Korean companies Samsung and Ace Technologies. “The Facility is K-SURE’s largest deal in India as well as the largest deal supported by K-SURE in the telecom sector globally,” […]