Beyond Social Network

Context:  Reliance’s Jio Platform is all set to take the lead on 5G deployment in India.

Consequences of 5G Technology:

• Positive Consequences:
• Increase in global GDP by $1.2-2 trillion by 2030: through the use of 5G in critical sectors such as healthcare, retail, etc.
• Push for Collaboration: Telecom operators need to move beyond connectivity and collaborate :

• Complex value chain of 5G requires telecom operators to work with all the stakeholders involved in a specific sector.
• Due to rapid digitization in areas such as finance, commerce, and government systems, India can reap maximal benefits from deploying 5G.

• Paves way for self-reliance: 

• Reduce import dependence of telecom gear and save precious foreign exchange.
• Opportunities for India’s vast software talent in a networking paradigm of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN), and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV).

• Negative Consequences: 
• Rise in monopolistic tendencies: as a result strong network effect generated by the platform approach For E.g. in case of Reliance Jio.

Way Forward

• Strong regulatory framework: for ensuring consumer welfare and reducing entry barriers for start-ups.
• Release spectrum, especially in the millimeter bands: of 24-28 GHz and 60 GHz for the deployment of microcells and picocells. 
• Release more spectrum in the 6 GHz band for the deployment of evolving technologies which can coexist with licensed cellular networks.

Conclusion: 5G is not much about bandwidth and connectivity, but all about building an ecosystem of partners that promotes value co-creation, business opportunities, and deploying use cases together.