India’s telecom sector with a subscriber base of 1.2 billion is now exploring artificial intelligence (AI) and pioneering 6G advancements. The sector is on an extraordinary growth trajectory, with average monthly wireless data usage reaching 21.30 GB per user by October 2024.
According to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the deployment of over 4,60,592 5G BTS sites has taken the number of 5G users to over 125 million and is estimated to reach 350 million by 2026.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), a key use case for 5G, also saw rapid adoption, reaching nearly 3 million connections within a year. The telecom sector, which contributes significantly to India’s GDP and employs over 4 million people, is now turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and pioneering 6G advancements.
Over 55 percent of India’s TMT (technology, media and telecommunications) companies have fully integrated AI, while another 37 percent are at the scaling stage, says KPMG India.
Through the Bharat 6G Vision initiative, the government aims to acquire 10 percent of global 6G patents and is actively nurturing research by funding advanced testing centers and evaluating proposals to accelerate ecosystem development.
The telecom industry faces significant hurdles, according to COAI. Large traffic generators (LTGs) are putting a strain on networks, forcing telecom service providers (TSPs) to invest Rs 10,000 crore by 2023. The lack of LTG contributions has cost the Indian exchequer Rs 800 crore in AGR dues and taxes.
The industry body has also complained about unregulated OTT communication platforms. COAI says it creates disparities as TSPs comply with stringent security norms. Implementing traceability and privacy laws for OTT services is essential to ensure fairness.
While the 6 GHz spectrum band, which is crucial for 5G, needs to be allocated for mobile networks immediately, concerns over the sale of unauthorized Wi-Fi 6E routers online also demand a solution. Smartphone Deals
Infrastructure constraints, RoW challenges and spectrum interference are hampering network expansion, and the newly proposed QoS norms are considered impractical by TSPs.
While TSPs are complying with TRAI’s orders to curb spam, it is crucial to extend UCC regulations to OTT services to address the root cause of nuisance calls and messages.
Opposing the creation of independent broadcast networks, COAI has been calling for transparent spectrum auctions for integration with D2M telecom networks.
Government initiatives such as the abolition of Wireless Operating License (WOL) since 2012 and the removal of bank guarantee requirements for deferred spectrum payments have reduced the financial burden. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling on tax credits for telecom tower components also provided significant relief.
