5G network: Indian Army gears up to improve data connectivity along borders

The Indian Army is looking to establish 5G network along borders. China has already begun establishing the 5G network along the Line Of Actual Control (LAC) for better communication.

The Indian Army is looking to establish a 5G network along borders in order to improve communication and high-speed data network to support the operational requirements of field formations.

China has already started building a 5G network along the Line Of Actual Control (LAC) to improve communication.

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“The high bandwidth low latency connectivity promised by 5G is envisaged to be better suited for mission-critical communication for troops conducting operations at forwarding edge of the battlefield,” as per sources.

Under the auspices of the Corps of Signals, a detailed Joint Services Study on the implementation of 5G in Defence Services was conducted. The study deliberated upon and recommended a timeline for integrating 5G into the Defense Forces.

A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering and IIT Madras for the establishment of a 5G Testbed. This test bed will help validate military 5G use cases for a field army. Smart surveillance, telemedicine, drone control, and real-time augmented and virtual reality for training and operations are among the use cases being investigated.

Meanwhile, the government on Monday successfully completed the spectrum auction, collecting over Rs 1.50 lakh crore in bids from four companies including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Adani Data Networks, indicating that fifth generation (5G) telecom services will be available in India by October this year.

Union Minister of Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said at a press conference following the conclusion of the 5G spectrum auction that 51,236 MHz, or roughly 71%, of the total 72,098 MHz of spectrum on offer, had been sold in the auction.

According to Vaishnaw, increased spectrum availability will improve the country’s telecom services.