Telcos get DoT nod to conduct 5G trials

NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecommunication on Tuesday approved applications of telecom companies—Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and MTNL—for conducting 5G trials, but none of them will be using technologies of Chinese entities.

The list of telecom gear makers approved for trials include Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, C-DOT and Jio’s indigenously developed technologies. This means that Chinese gear makers will not be part of the 5G trials.

“The Department of Telecommunications approved today permissions to Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) for conducting trials for use and applications of 5G technology,” DoT said.

Initially, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea had submitted proposals to carry out trials using technology of China’s Huawei. Later, they submitted applications wherein the trials will be done without technologies from Chinese vendors.

“These TSPs have tied up with original equipment manufacturers and technology providers which are Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and C-DOT. In addition, Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd will also be conducting trials using its own indigenous technology,” DoT said. The latest move also indicates that the government may bar Chinese companies from participating in rolling out of the 5G services in the country.