India, which has the highest average monthly mobile data traffic per smartphone, is expected to surpass 350 million 5G subscriptions by 2026, according to a report by Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson.

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[Burning Issue] 5G Technology

Ericsson Mobility Report, 2020

• As per the report, four out of every ten mobile subscriptions in 2026 will be 5G globally with 5G subscriptions forecast to reach 3.5 billion.
• In the India region, LTE (long-term evolution technology) subscriptions are forecast to increase from 710 million in 2020 to 820 million in 2026” by which time 3G will be phased out.
• LTE remains the dominant technology in 2020, accounting for 63%.
• Based on the reported timeline for spectrum auction for 5G services, India could have its first 5G connection in 2021.

Internet usage in India

• In India, the reliance of people on mobile networks to stay connected as well as work from home during the pandemic has resulted in average traffic per smartphone is the global highest.
• Low prices for mobile broadband services, affordable smartphones and increased time spent by people online all contribute to monthly usage growth in India.

Back2Basics: 5G Technology

• It is the next-generation cellular technology that will provide faster and more reliable communication with ultra-low latency.
• A government panel report points out that with 5G, the peak network data speeds are expected to be in the range of 2-20 Gigabits per second (Gbps).
• This is in contrast to 4G link speeds in averaging 6-7 Megabits per second (Mbps) in India as compared to 25 Mbps in advanced countries.
• Once 5G becomes commercial, users will be required to change their current devices in favour of 5G-enabled ones.
• However, it is likely that the primary use of the technology will go beyond the delivery of services on personal mobiles devices.

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