A day after the week-long 5G spectrum auction ends on August 1 ashwini vaishnavThe Union Minister of Communications, who is also in-charge of Railways, Electronics and Information Technology, spoke exclusively to the Group Editorial Director Raj Chengappa on a number of issues related to the result. Interview excerpts:
Why. How satisfied are you with the outcome of the 5G auction?
It has been a success and reflects the full range of structural and procedural reform processes in the entire gamut of telecom sector impacted by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Before the auction, all the estimates said we would get between Rs 80,000 crore and Rs 1 lakh crore, but the numbers that have come out- Rs 1.5 lakh crore- indicate that the industry is coming out of the deep problems it is facing. was facing.
Why. How soon can we get 5G on our phones in India?
We are working in close synergy with the industry. Even before the auction took place, we requested them to start installing the equipment as far as possible across the country. Before mid-August, we should be able to allocate spectrum and then by setting up the equipment, tuning it up and turning it on, we should be able to roll out 5G by October.
“India’s telecom service is one of the cheapest today. The trend is expected to continue for 5G as well”
Why. Globally, there are safety concerns regarding the harmful effects of intense radiation on 5G networks and the humans living near them.
We should look at these things with good evidence and scientific data. I would say that if the global standard for electromagnetic field (EMF) radiations is 100, the average emf level in India is just 10, or one-tenth of the global standards. Why should we have such low radiation levels when it fundamentally hinders our ability to provide good quality services? So, while we certainly have a very safe and secure environment, we should also consider increasing the EMF instead of keeping it at the current level to improve the quality of our telecom services.
Why. Some airlines in the US have opposed the installation of 5G, saying it could interfere with their aircraft’s electronic equipment. Will there be a similar problem in India?
This is a problem specific to the US as some of the frequencies they employ for 5G may affect older aircraft using it. We in India and in fact, most countries have left a significant gap between the frequencies used by aircraft equipment and those used by 5G.
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Why. Security concerns have been raised about buying 5G technology from Huawei in the past as well. How have you addressed it?
When PM Modiji announced the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme, one of the goals set was to develop the 5G network end-to-end indigenously. This includes not only building and designing the core network but also the network management system, radio connections and everything to make it work. The indigenous 5G network has now been developed by C-DOT (Center for Development of Telematics) in collaboration with a whole bunch of Indian private entrepreneurs, who came forward to channel their expertise and resources. This is going to prove to be a game changer. They are not only going to install these in India, but now they are getting international orders as well.
Why. Before a 5G network is ready in India, how will you ensure that companies like Reliance Jio and Airtel, which are tying up with overseas networks, meet our security concerns?
These companies have a very well defined and reliable source system. This is a governance that is very scientifically designed and very clearly defined, so any tool that does not meet our trusted governance framework will not be used.
Why. Will people in India be able to afford 5G-enabled cell phones and tariffs?
As the 5G ecosystem develops, handset makers will ramp up production. India is today the second largest manufacturer of mobile phones in the world and about 25-30 percent of new mobile phones are already 5G-enabled. The handset price is decreasing every year and 5G handsets are available for Rs 15,000 and are expected to go further down. With regard to tariffs, India’s telecom service is one of the cheapest today. This trend is expected to continue for 5G as well.
“The price of handsets is coming down every year; The 5G handsets are available for Rs 15,000 and are expected to go further down.
Why. But we have also had issues with 4G regarding quality of services, frequent call drops and inability to connect.
Three things combine to create an ecosystem that provides a good quality of services. The first is spectrum availability. In the recently concluded auction, a large number of gaps in spectrum for several operators were filled. Second, we need a large number of towers – the reforms initiated by PM Modiji have resulted in getting tower permissions in a few hours as compared to a few months back. The third is expanding fiberization and the PM’s Gati Shakti portal ensures that all infrastructure is planned and coordinated. All the states have signed up. These could see public service ducts along railway lines and highways, which could speed things up considerably.
Why. Is the ghost of 2G scam affecting the way your spectrum is priced?
No way. There is clarity on the policy of Modi government and we aim at inclusive growth and serving the poorest of the poor. We have developed a model based on the fact that India has a large number of customers, which in turn ensures that our spectrum pricing is very adequate. Some countries have made spectrum available practically for free, but given our realities and our economic, legal and social framework, the pricing is reasonable.
Why. Lastly, why are you pouring so much money- Rs 1.64 lakh crore to revive public sector unit BSNL?
BSNL is a very important stabilizing force in the telecom market. Telecommunication is a strategic sector which affects the security of the country in a big way. Almost all the critical defense telecom infrastructure is handled by BSNL. Second, the philosophy of our government is to ensure that everyone is included in the digital journey, and there should be no division. BSNL is serving the poorest areas, be it Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand or villages in northeastern states and border areas, where it is impracticable for other telecom companies to operate. Third, when we have new types of devices, including 5G being built in India, we will need a bigger platform that can test all these things and help us move forward. For this we can use BSNL. Fourth, despite all the issues, BSNL still has a loyal customer base of over 100 million. Our philosophy is that BSNL should become a vibrant, tech-savvy company that acts as a vital market-stabilizing force in the highly competitive and agile telecom sector.
Why. Somewhat the same logic was used to maintain Air India as a PSU for a long period of time before it was eventually privatized.
We have a clearly laid out business plan for BSNL. We are providing the basic capital required to upgrade the network and provide the required spectrum for it. We have full confidence in its success.