5G driving the next growth wave

5G has the potential to change the socio-economic fabric in India and transform the society at large. Providing pan-India connectivity through Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services could be a game changer, especially in the rural areas.

5G Fixed Wireless Access services is expected to spawn new avenues of economic growth through high-speed internet connectivity in households, improving the fixed broadband penetration significantly. 5G has the potential to address some of the basic challenges owing to lack of optimum infrastructure in sectors such as healthcare and education. 5G is likely to improve access to education and quality of virtual learning.

As per the report of Ernst young, 5G is going to transform a host of industries in India. The transition to 5G will unlock new use cases and revenue streams through innovative business models. It will bolster the startup ecosystem and enable India to be an R&D hub for 5G technology and use cases. Developing 5G applications is likely to have a huge impact across industries.

In India, the engineering/advanced manufacturing segment offers the largest 5G/IoT opportunity. Multiple use cases exist in this segment with benefits of increased efficiency, productivity, better safety standards, and highly efficient production. In healthcare, 5G’s benefits can immediately be realized in home-based care and connected hospital devices as 5G facilitates real-time data transfer.

For instance, a smart ambulance equipped with the latest medical instruments, including HD video camera and portable MRI scanners, can help to transfer real-time data to the hospital. 5G also has the potential to open-up remote patient monitoring and diagnosis opportunities in health care in the rural areas.

The Indian M&E sector is transitioning from passive consumption to participative consumption fueled by the popularity of immersive technologies such as AR and VR, networked gaming, and interactive game shows. 5G may help accelerate this trend and completely transform the consumer experience. Also, there will be an innovation in the use of 5G for the distribution of live HD broadcast in big events, bringing alive the next generation stadium experience through in-stadium AR.

For India to seize the 5G opportunity, it is critical that all stakeholders act immediately through a collaborative approach, supported by an enabling ecosystem and the right regulatory support. Since 5G impacts a wide range of industries, close coordination between various government departments and sector regulators is necessary for the success of 5G in India.

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, President & CEO, VARINDIA