Do we really need 5G as telecom companies are unable to provide average 4G speed to users, and considering 5G requires more network of antenna towers?

The inability of telecom companies to live up to promised speeds is not unique to India. 4G speeds have been peaking at 50 Mbps all over the world

https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2018/02/state-of-lte

https://www.opensignal.com/sites/opensignal-com/files/data/reports/global/data-2019-05/the_state_of_mobile_experience_may_2019_0.pdf

a far cry from the promised 1000 mbps.

I must admit that I'm of the opinion that speed is overrated after a certain limit is reached but if you look at a modest last gen wifi machine you'll find that it easily achieves a gigabit.

And it does it while being lighter,less power hungry and easier to provision and maintain.

Now some experts will point out that the speed measurement is at fault. And that a base station has to serve several hundred users while maintaining coverage over large distances.

It is true but then again many questions arise – the most important being Why has the industry not been able to reduce the base station prices? Why have there not been more base stations? Who is stopping them from deploying more antennas?

If you really want to understand how big of a joke the G networks are just google around for 6G. Esteemed experts have already started spec’ing out new ways to fleece money from customers. This will keep their stashes fattening for at least 30 years. But I'm still optimistic that 6G will be able to deliver on the speeds promised by 5G.

While the experts plan their next big con job, in their seedy conference halls, modest hardworking people need to take matters into their own hands. I'm afraid that there is no other way.

Some efforts are already bearing results like Gujarat's investment into more than 1500 access points that has been of great help common people

https://youtu.be/T01hhwCdPkk?si=umMXtcD_4kB3cW_u

Although right now they are using third party hardware it can easily be replaced by other commonly available access points or even be developed in house. It is a step in the right direction. We should look to emulate this effort.

I urge mobile network operators to build their own hardware and not rely on third parties whose only job is to shift their units. Today it's under the guise of 5G tomorrow it will be 6G. They will go to any lengths to realize their ambition.

https://www.dw.com/en/ericsson-fined-1-billion-for-widespread-corruption/a-51566829

But it is important for us to remember we are not here to set up the G networks. We are here to connect people. Alternatives are available. It does not have to be this hard.

India does not need 5G but India should use the momentum behind 5G to enhance its capacity and deliver connectivity to unconnected places.

Comments

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Notes by Akshat Jiwan Sharma

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