2 weeks Ago
NEW DELHI: Homegrown telecom and hardware companies such as Lekha Wireless , VVDN Technologies, Galore Networks , and WiSig have begun live trials of the fifth-generation ( 5G ) technology in government-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited ’s ( BSNL ) network using the 700MHz spectrum. The participating companies said that the broader objectives are to reduce import bills of equipment, lessen the dependence on multinational firms, and provide cost-effective deployment options to BSNL when it launches its 5G network commercially. Lekha Wireless has deployed a network at Minto Road in Delhi, with support from Niral Network for its core and others to support equipment by BSNL, while VVDN has deployed at the MTNL's Chanakyapuri location, with participation from BSNL, and support of the Centre of Development of Telematics (C-DoT), and WiSiG.
Advt Galore is deploying three sites at MTNL’s Delhi locations in Rajendra Nagar, Karol Bagh and Shadipur, as per information from the Voice of Indian Communication Technology Enterprises (VoICE). Galore has partnered with its IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) partner Coral Telecom to connect 5G network to legacy 3G network to ensure seamless connectivity for BSNL customers. The network architecture is Open Radio Access Network (OpenRAN) standalone, while Core equipment is being supplied by Indian vendors such as Niral Networks.
VoICE is an industry grouping of indigenous telecom companies including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tejas Networks, Vihan Networks, United Telecoms, Coral Telecom, HFCL, Tidal Wave, and others. RK Bhatnagar, Director-General of VoICE, said that TCS has also taken up a similar trial run in Delhi. In addition, more teams led by CDoT, Signaltron, WiSiG, BigCat Wireless, Wireless 4 Space (IIT Delhi), ITI, ECIL, Tidal Wave, and others are ready for similar 5G trial runs by Diwali at multiple locations across the country, if the first set of live 5G trials prove to be positive.
"With most of the stakeholders implementing in Consortium mode and most of them are having limited turnover, they cannot afford free trial runs at multiple sites," he said. “We are confident of winning commercial 5G deals from BSNL. We already have the experience of building and deploying carrier grade 4G network in parts of BSNL’s Karnataka circle using funding from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF),” Ramu Srinivasaiah, CEO of Lekha Wireless, told ETTelecom.
Advt Balaji Kulothungan, Founder and Managing Director (MD) of Galore Networks, in turn, said that the company is ready for commercial deployments with BSNL, as well as, for private 5G network in partnership with the telecom PSU and other telecom carriers to meet the requirements of public sector firms in mining, refinery, steel plants and multiple industrial 5G use cases. “Homegrown companies like Galore are fully equipped commercially and technically to deploy commercial network,” Kulothungan said. ETTelecom first reported in its July 30 edition that domestic startups and companies have proposed live 5G trials in BSNL’s network .
Private sector telcos Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have already concluded pan-India 5G network rollouts, and have seen success with their commercial 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) service. Third-ranked private telco Vodafone Idea aims to tie-up 5G equipment contracts soon to commence deployments of the latest-generation wireless networks, while BSNL is currently lagging in 4G launch. The Cabinet in June 2023 approved the third revival package for BSNL with an outlay of Rs 89.
047 crore, which also included the allotment of 4G and 5G spectrum to the company through equity infusion. The government approved the first revival package for BSNL and MTNL in 2019, amounting to Rs 69,000 crore, followed by a second revival package of Rs 1.64 lakh crore in 2022 for the two telecom PSUs.
The domestic companies have sought support from the Centre for funding their research and development (R&D) activities and urged that they get reserve quota in public and private equipment procurement. “Support is required not only from government for R&D funding but operators also in offering encouraging commercial models to domestic 5G partners which will help domestic companies to gradually scale up the 5G rollout,” said Srinivasaiah. “Galore and its indigenous consortium partners need more diversity in its supply chain to bring the down the cost of goods sold.
We are happy that the government of India is already working towards it. Also, if indigenous companies like Galore get reserve quota in public and private telecom gear procurement, it will catalyse the growth of homegrown companies,” said Kulothungan. By Ashutosh Kumar , ETTelecom Published On Sep 19, 2024 at 01:02 PM IST Telegram Facebook Copy Link Be the first one to comment.
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