Telcos fall behind 10,000 5G base stations per week target
NEW DELHI: Telecom service providers are still far from meeting the government’s target of deploying 10,000 5G base stations every week, with the top two carriers managing to set up only about a third of the weekly target so far.
Telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw asked telcos to ramp up the installation of 5G cell sites from 2,500 a week last month to 10,000 so that 5G services are available at the earliest.
Industry executives said the rollout of about 3,500 5G sites a week is in line with supplies from telecom network gear providers.
Production capacity is being ramped up to meet demand, they added.
“Our 5G network rollout is happening as per plan. We are rolling out 1,500–1,600 sites a week. We plan to ramp up as equipment supplies increase,” an Airtel spokesperson said, adding that the telco has rolled out 5G in Gurugram on Tuesday.
Airtel acquired over 1 million 5G customers since it launched the services in eight cities in early October.
A Reliance Jio spokesperson said Jio is on track to complete the pan-india deployment of 5G by December next year.
“We are ahead of plans at this stage. We are deploying over three times more 5G cells every week than others, and the pace is picking up on a daily basis. However, we are launching services in an area only after substantial coverage is achieved and not with the mere presence of a radiating tower,” the spokesperson said.
India’s largest telecom service provider Reliance Jio started 5G services early last month via an invite-only beta launch in key metros. Last week, Jio extended 5G coverage to Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Network equipment makers Nokia and Ericsson said they were increasing local production to meet demand. More than 95% of the telecom service providers’ requirements of 5G telecom gear were being met by the local production capacities of the European gear providers, executives said.