Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that India has successfully rolled out 5G telecom services across all states and Union Territories, reaching 80% of the population within just 22 months. This rapid deployment is expected to inject approximately $450 million into the Indian economy by 2040. Scindia made these remarks at the 5th Global Standards Symposium held in New Delhi, where he emphasized the significance of establishing robust standards and regulations in technology [ce6fc212].
The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) is being hosted in India for the first time, attracting leaders from over 100 countries. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), commended India's swift 5G rollout and its contributions to fostering a knowledge-based economy [ce6fc212]. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also set to inaugurate the ITU-World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024, highlighting the importance of this event for India's technological landscape [ce6fc212].
In the context of global telecommunications, the deployment of 5G technology has faced challenges and shortcomings. A report commissioned by CTIA, the wireless industry association, highlights the economic potential of allocating harmonized mid-band spectrum for 5G in the US, which could unlock approximately $200 billion for the US economy over the next decade. The report emphasizes that the US has less mid-band 5G spectrum available compared to its international peers, including China, and urges US regulators to focus on freeing up mid-band spectrum for licensed 5G use [c9cd82f5].
The CTIA report identifies the lower 3 GHz band and the 7/8 GHz band as critical for future mobile use, calling for swift action to position the US at the forefront of wireless innovation. However, the US ranks 13th out of 15 countries in terms of spectrum allocated to commercial wireless in the lower mid-band range, which poses a threat to its technological leadership and economic advantage in the digital economy [4c33d10e].
As the US grapples with these challenges, the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2024 aims to identify and reallocate federal spectrum for non-federal use, with leading companies committing to support an expanded research initiative for dynamic spectrum sharing. The US must act quickly to seize the 5G opportunity and avoid falling behind in the digital infrastructure race [837dcbc0].