5G data cost likely to be comparatively less than other countries: Minister
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New Delhi: The Indian Telecom and Communication Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday confirmed that only 20 to 25 Indian cities will get access to 5G connectivity by the end of 2022. The price of 5G data will also be comparatively less than that of other countries, reported PTI.
Airtel CTO Randeep Sekhon, in an interview with India Today Tech, had earlier said that there will not be a major difference in 4G and 5G tariffs.
Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Jamnagar, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Kolkata are the 13 cities that will receive 5G connection in the initial rollout expected in August or September, the government release said.
When India's data rates are about $2 which is Rs 155, the global average rate is at $25, Rs 1,990, the communication minister reported to PTI.
The average data consumption of the country, which is 18GB per month, also crosses the global average, of 11GB. However, India is at the 125th position in the mean global mobile speed performance index and 79th in the mean global fixed broadband performance index.
72097.85 MHz is the maximum range of the spectrum that can be put in the Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending (SMRA) E-auction. In this, 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands are the currently available spectrums, the government confirmed.
The Union Minister has also responded to questions regarding the counter effects of Electro-Magnetic Field from 5G towers. India has strict rules and regulations regarding this, and there is no need for any concern, he said.